Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-31

Records at the weather bureau
show that this has been the coolest
December in the history of the es-
tablishment. The departure from
normal totalled 263 points, the cold
est moment being early yesterday
morning which registered three de-
grees below zero.
If it be any consolation to know
the fact is that Harrisburg within
recent date shivered in colder cline
than this. On February 10. 1899,
for example, the mercury went down
to g below, and on January IA, 1912,
the limit was IA below. Mr.. Demain
is of the opinion that we will not
be compelled to endure anything
like this just now. If Dakota will
only let go of that warm wave 1t
should arrive here at least by the
middle of the week.
The uncommon spell of early win
ter partly paralyzed all railroad
schedules and caused widespread dis
aster in plumbing. Every plumber in
the city had hurry calls yesterday,
and many worked all night to open
frozen pipes and repair them. Hun
dreds of passengers waiting for the
train for Altoona leaving at a. m.
yesterday were compelled to wait for
train at 1918. 1t was so cold that
the streets were deserted and the
Oldest loafer was missing from his
accustomed street corner.
Failure to heat the Grace Metho-
dist Church has made it necessary
to call off the Social Union meeting
and also the Watch Night services
in the church. The only meeting
scheduled for this evening, which
will be held will be the session of the
Sunday school board. This meeting
4 will be held in the board room.
Demand For Coal
The severe cold wave that holds
the city in its grip has made an un-
usual demand on the coal dealers at
a time when they are less able to
cope with it than during any other
winter in the history of the city.
Some dealers were busy all day yes
terday filling orders and the dealers
in the city to-day are rapidly naul-
ing out what coal is in their yards
to supply the demand in the city.
The delivery of the coal is now the
greatest obstacle to the supplying
of coal by the local dealers. One of
the largest dealers is not taking or
ders for coal until after Thursday,
owing to the difficulty of delivery.
During the cold weather of the last
two days, a number of complaints
have been made to the police regard
ing the difficulty in securing coal de-
| liveries. Where actual suffering is
present the chief of police has had
the consumers who appeal for coal
furnish a wagon or truck, and has
seen to 1t that the coal was secured
for voluntary delivery by the con-
sumer. No really acute suffering
has been reported, although it is
probable that there is some present
in portions of the city.
Supply Is Short
The supply of coal in the city is
short. Eight or ten cars of coal will
be received in the city to-day, the
fuel administrator says, and if the
operators live up to their promises
shipments will arrive every day. Coal
dealers say that about thirty cars q
day is the least amount of coal that
is necessary per day for consumption
in the city. Dealers say that the coal
is sold before it arrives; there are
so many untitled orders on their
books.
Ross A. Hickok, fuel administra-
tor, says the worst feature of the
situation is the lack of labor neces-
sary for the delivery of the coal to
the consumer. He says the number
of complaints to him regarding the
coal shortage at the present time
has been comparatively small, con-
sidering the intensity of the cold
weather that is prevailing. He says
that the suffering in Harrisburg is
slight compared to that in other
cities in the state.
The Fuel Commission of Dauphin
county will hold its meeting this af-
ternoon to discuss the general aspect
of the situation. There is no special
legislation before the commission.
The fuel administrator is still prob
ing the report that an uptown dealer
was found selling coal in small guam
titles at prohibitive prices.
Lightness nights are being observ-
ed in Harrisburg without any dis
comfort, the fuel administrator SAYS.
He reports that he has received no
report of any violation of the ma
tional fuel administrators edict for
two lightness nights. Theaters, he
said, are allowed to burn their out
side lights until half hour after the
beginning of their last show.