Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-16
Towns Nearest the Big Coal
Mines Suffering the Most,
According to Survey Of
Situation.
Riots Among Poor Caused
by Inability to Secure
Fuel During Severe Cold
Weather - Schools and
Colleges Closed.

which is causing suffering, privation
and even deaths in many states. is
most severe in the east and in the
coal regions-in towns which are
nearest the big mines, according to a
Press today.
In the west municipal coal yards
and strict supervision Of distribution
and sale are preventing danger Of
famine.
But in many eastern cities, except
tho New England district, there are
chilly homes, empty coal yards and
riots among the poor. who fight for
the right to purchase q scanty supply.
In New York half the yards are empty
and use of electricity Ii being cur
tailed to save fuel.
POLICE CALLED OUT.
Steam in some big tenements has
been shut off and police have been
called to dispense coal riots.
A lack of cars to carry anthracite
and bituminous from the mines is one
cause Of this condition. Many train
loads Of coal are snowbound- Federal
Fuel Administrator Garfield, speaking
IN NEW 1OIhs bthAu tAho ~ uilSpoi eeaeAS
situation was principally to blame for
the famine. The railroads. he said,
are overwhelmed by war demands.
In Ohio, schools and colleges are
closing for lack Of heat. Thousands
of men have been thrown out Of work
through plants closing. Power to
factories has been shut off in some
Ohio cities, SO homes can have heat
and light. Governor Cox is leading the
fight for relief. It Is estimated $4,000
men will be temporarily 1obless In
Cleveland through an illuminating
company cutting off power to 5000
consumers until Monday.
RIOTS AT PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia reported frequent small
riots among the poor seeking to buy
coal. The supply is far below nor
NAL. Francis A. Lewis, Philadelphia
fuel director asked $4,000 to relieve
the famine.
Only about half Of Indiana's mines
are operating because thousands of
loaded cars are standing near the
workings. Locomotivesare frozen up.
Syracuse, n. Y. is suffering because
there are no vehicles to deliver coal
In the yards.
Dealers, the chamber of commerce,
city and county officials and the state
fuel administrator are meeting In
Harrisburg, Pa. today to consider
methods of getting coal for the poor.
Every ton in the district has been
sold or promised. Hundreds of car
loads pass through from the mines
daily but little is delivered in Harris
burg.
SITUATION DESPERATE.
The domestic situation in Detroit Is
called desperate" Many have closed
their homes and doubled up with
friends. Thirty five hundred families
are without fuel Factories demands
arc being filled slowly, the war depart
ment taking hand to keep munitions
works going.
Chicago's fuel handlers are planning
their supply two weeks ahead to avert
danger Of a shortage. No suffering
has been reported. Schools close for
an extra week at Christmas to aid
conservation.
Further west the situation Is under
control. In st. Louis the supply Is
limited but the poor are buying in
municipal yards at 10 cents bushel
A club Of operators purposes to dis
tribute Is carloads free. State Die
tator Crossley confiscated 10 car
loads from Illinois to help industries
facing tie up.
CITY CONTROLS PRICES.
Kansas City's municipal laws con-
troll price and quality Of all coal sold.
Suffering in small Kansas towns is
being alleviated through city wood
yards, the first being opened in Law
renee.
Missouri towns are we'll supplied.
Des Moines has plenty of coal. Okla
homa City seized trainloads passing
through and avoided suffering. Dali
las is short but experiencing no pri-
vations. Some Nebraska towns are on
coal rations. Denver is supplying hun
dreds Of families at cost from its own
leased mines. Minneapolis claims suf-
ficient coal. but some northern Minne-
sofa cities are complaining. North Da-
kota has stringent regulations govern