The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-12
Frantic Efforts Being Made To
Keep Inmates Warm.
Fast Passenger Trains Garry
Cars of Coal in Kansas.
STATE HOSPITAL RAN OUT
I'll. L. Peppmeyer Saves Day
(and Night in His Pajamas.
Called From Bed, He Gave
State Customers Coal.

Business management almost re-
suited in the closing of several state
institutions today because of the fuel
shortage. In spite of administration
publication press notice of economy
and efficiency, hundreds of inmates of
state institutions are but a few hours
ahead of days and nights in heatless
institutions Because of the shortage
of coal at several institutions, the state
was compelled Friday night to borrow
fuel and to secure permission to at
tach cars of coal to fast passenger
trains.
The Topeka state hospital escaped
the most serious problem the state
has known by a few minutes. Only
the prompt action of the engineer at
the hospital and the generosity of
local coal company, saved the l,6oo
inmates of the hospital from exposure
today to below zero weather. Fast
passenger trains on the Union Pac1f1c
and Katy railroads Friday night
carried cars of coal for the girls IN
dustrial school at Beloit and the state
hospital at Parsons.
Dealer Called From Bed.
Shortly after midnight this morn
ing H L. Peppmeyer of the Topeka
Coal company was called from warm
bed to listen to the urgent appeal of
the engineer at the Topeka state nos
pitaI. There was not sufficient coal IN
the bunkers to run the institution two
hours, Peppmeyer was told. More
than 1900 uRfortunates, as well as
nurses, employees and members of the
staff were subject to the 16 below
zero weather. Not onfy that but the
state faced the loss of thousands of
dollars thru broken steam and water
pipes. In fact, the closing of the heat
ing plant meant a thousand things and
the engineer at the hospital wanted to
tell Peppmeyer all of them-while
Peppmeyer stood in his pajamas and
shiVered and listened.
The Topeka Coal company does not
have a contract to supply the state
hospital with fuel. Yet Peppmeyer
had several cars of coal on the Rock
coal. But the big state institution-in
fact the largest of the state institu-
tions-was in want and danger. So
Peppmeyer called the Rock Island Of
fices and two cars of coal were deliv-
cred just as the hospital engineer was
preparing to give up the fight.
Take Coal to Solomon.
Failure of the state to provide suf-
ficient coal did not affect the Topeka
state hospital alone. When the Union
Pacific's fast Colorado train arrived
in Topeka, Friday, the crew received
orders to pick up two cars of coal in
the local yards. This coal was hauled
to Solomon and today taken to the
state industrial school for girls that
the 800 inmates and employees might
not suffer.
At the Parsons state hospital for
epileptics, another serious condition
existed. When the fast Katy Flyer
arrived in Parsons this morning, it
carried a couple of cars of coal for
the hospital.
Efforts are being made by the state
board of administration today to re-
lieve the situation at all state institu-
tions. it was stated. A couple of cars
of coal will today be taken from the
State Agricultural college at Manhat-
tan and sent to Beloit as further re-
lief from the situation at the girls
school. In spite of the recent f1owery
statements from state departments, it
was admitted today that the situation
confronting several state institutions
was most serious.