Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-19
Quick Action Necessary to
Ward Off Acute Suffering
in Thousands of Homes in
America.
Special Agent Named in
New York to Devise
Means of Ameliorating
Conditions-Boston May
Cut Down Factory Hours.

New YORK, oct. l9-bnleSS some step
Is taken at once to relieve what
amounts to a nation wide shortage Of
coal. thousands of homes will not have
heat to ward off winters chill and the
wheels of industry may be slowed.
A canvass of the situation conduct
ed today by the United Press revealed
this grave situation almost everywhere
in the country. An acute shortage is
expected within the next two weeks.
Detailed reports follow:
NEW YORK SUFFERING.
New York-AIl dealers report short
age: prices increasing; fuel admins
tration named a special agent to de-
wise means of ameliorating. Many
apartment house owners declare they
are completely without coal.
Cleveland, o.-Shortage expected to
be temporarily relieved as result Of
an order holding 20 per cent of all
Ohio mined coal on one day for use
of Ohio consumers. Many factories
working on a day to day fuel basis
Boston. Mass.-M facturers
aroused by increasing shortage and
may cut factory hours in an effort to
conserve the supply.
o'on AVE IlN NEW CNSLfNNbs
New England's shortage by January
l. predicted to he six million tons.
Detroit Mich.--Factories hard hit
by increasing inability to get even
small amounts of coal. Forty thou
sand homes without coal. Mayor re-
ceived petitions from 10000 citizens
asking for aid. Some coal for heating
distributed.
st. Louis-Estimate present supply
of coal sufficient for only three days.
If strike Of southern Illinois miners
continues beyond that time, much suf-
ferng is feared here. At st. Louis
supply comes from the Illinois fields.
Chicago-Sudden cold wave caused
intense suffering due to gravely seri
Gus shortage.of fuel, Shortage already
estimated at 1,25O.000 tons. Even hos
pitals keeping warm only day by day.
acquisitions have been made for coal.
NEEDS OF THE SOUTH.
Atlanta, Ga.-Fifty thousand tons
needed at once to supply immediate
demands. Only few shipments re-
ceived since August, mere drop in
the bucket. Acute shortage red
within a few weeks.
but dealers predict scarcity. I'VE are
just getting by" was one dealers "om-
ment.
Richmond, Va. and Philadelphia were
among the few cities of the nation
which report mo shortage" Kansas
City likewise reported mo serious
shortage" except in semi anthracite,
which is practically unobtainable.
When appeals TO state fuel admins
traitors and local dealers absolutely
fail to provide necessary coal, consum-
ers are urged to wire the federal fuel
administration here. It would not sur
prise officials If public authorities
where there is an acute shortage, draw
upon the nearest big coal piles to pre-
vent women and children freezing in
their homes.
TO CUT OFF LUxURIEs.
Intimation that luxury industries
would be cut off from coal first and
that hoarders would be forced to dis
gorge were again given at the fuel
administration.
The war was represented as having
added adopted children" to a family
already In difficulty to supply its brood
with warm clothing.
Then somebody simply has to stay
IN bed to keep warm" said ID. II. Minis.
first assistant to Administrator Gar
field.
The wars demands for coal are illus
trated in The case of one munition
plant whidh has increased its output
$500 per cent and is running "a hours
CONTINUED on Page Two.)