The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-30
WORST OCTOBER
On The BOOKS
There Have Been Twelve Bad
Storms This Month, In
stead of Usual
-Four.
ANOTHER ONE ON WAY
Entire Country is Today In One Big
SILVER, With the Second
Ono Due Tomor-
ONE ON WAY

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
CHICAGO, Oct. 30.-The entire
country. from the Missouri river to
the Alleghenies was one big shiver
today
The lowest October temperature
records in the history Of the weather
bureau were broken throughout this
section, while snow fell as far south
as Asheville, N. G.
The unprecedented snow fall, which
ranged from six inches in Wisconsin
to a trace along the south Atlantic
seaboard, prevented loss of millions
of dollars in winter wheat through
freezing. Late crops in the extreme
southwest were reported to have been
heavily damaged.
Today's storm was the twelfth
which has swept the country this
month and there is another following
on its heels. This is three times the
normal number. Weather oficials
said today that this is the worst
October in the history OF the bureau"
The snow area extended today from
far into Canada, south to the Caro-
linas and from Iowa east to Pitts
burgh Freezing temperatures were
reported as far south as Vicksburg,
Miss. The coldest city in the United
States today, according to early re-
ports to the bureau, was Wichita,
Kansas, with IA degrees. Salina re-
ported 15, while Oklahoma City re-
ported 16. Other low temperatures
were Arkansas City, IT; Des Moines,
Iowa, 10; Abilene, Texas. 22, Fort
Smith Ark, %; Chicago, %; Terre
Haute, Ind, 26, and Shreveport, La,
80.
The storm is accompanied by &C.
we're winds in several sections, Buffalo
an eighty mile blow early
today. 1t was raining in the east and
this was expected to be followed by
low temperatures and snow tonight
and tomorrow.
The west will get some relief to-
night, but it will be of short duration
as another storm is breeding in the
Rockies and is expected to reach here
In time to maintain the record for
general cussedness' that October is
pilIng UP.
And Coal is Scarce.
CHICAGO, Oct. 30.-Thousands of
persons in the middle west were ac-
tually suffering from the cold today
as a result of the general coal short
dSe. be~itlS ueSlilcu Lie
Is critical and that only prompt gov
action can avert grave re-
suits.
The sudden advent Of freezing tenn
Deratures caught consumers with in
adequate supplies of coal and flood |
I'd dealers with urgent demands for
nd. The dealers were willing but !
mpotent.
AS a consequence, the suffering was
lot confined to the poor classes, but |
extended to people who were willing |
o pay unprecedented prices, but could .
lot get fuel at any figure
I'VE are turning down thousands OF |
demands for coal' declared Fred Up
lam president of the Consumers com
Iany the largest fuel concern in the .
middle west. 1--WE haven't the coal .
md won't be able to get it unless the .
exercises pressure on oD-
,rators and railroads to effect wider
distribution. !
I'VE are following the recommen-
iations of the state fuel administra-
ion and are making deliveries only
o those whom investigation shows
ire In actual want Even with this
'estriction the shortage is so great
hat many must suffer.
THE, same conditions prevail gen
,rally throughout the middle west.
The situation is serious" !