Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-15
Partial Suspension Of Bus.
mess Agreed to to Save
On Heat.
FACTS on FUEL FAMINE.

fAylS ON ftEL AMANLs
City has only 300 tons Of coal
Committees of cigar store own.
ers and saloonkeepers to agree to
reduce period they keep open.
An coal sold in future will be
disposed Of through q clearing
house. -,
All nights except Saturday will
be Iightless.
II. A. Clevenstine. chairman OF
county fuel board, urged by bust.
ness men to use his arbitrary
rights and make rules as he sees
fit.
Facina. the worst coal famine IN
wears, Rock Island today took steps to
carry its elf over the crisis when bust
ness men met at the Chamber of Com
merce headquarters at noon to con-
slider the fuel shortage.
The startling information that only
800 tons Of coal remains in the city
was revea led to the business men,
who imme daitely came forward with
promises Of hearty cooperation in
any scheme that will serve to the end
of making he small supply last until
relief comes
During the progress of the meeting,
the business men urged that II. A.
Clevenstine. chairman of the county
fuel commission, take complete charge
Of the situation and use his arbitrary
rights in providing regulations which
will aid in carrying Rock Island over
the crisis.
Probably the most important action
taken aside from saloon owners and
cigar store proprietors agreeing to re-
duce the time their places will be
open, was that of providing clear
ing house through which coal will be
distributed. Dealers who have no fuel
on hand will serve as board to make
investigations as to the need OF the
patron before coal is delivered him.
Not more than a ton of coal at time
will be delivered to patron.
Similar to Davenport.
Fuel conservation laws adopted by
Davenport at the meeting of the Dav-
export fuel commission yesterday Will
take effect in Rock Island tonight with
the exception Of the street car law as
a result of the meeting here.
Rock Island will observe every
night as lightless nights and the local
commission and coal dealers request
that every dealer and business man
cooperate In keeping all unnecessary
lights extinguished.
Rock Island saloons commencing to-
morrow morning will open their doors
at s O'Clock instead of o'clock and
thereby saving not only heat but light
1t was first intended to close the sa-
looms at 10 o'clock and open at Z, but
it was found that more light could be
saved by operating later.
Rock Island cigar store owners have
agreed to open at o'clock and close
at II, cutting off three hours from the
present schedule.
At the meeting held at the Rock Is
land club at which nearly every bust
ness in Rock Island was represented
the following suggestions were made.
Watch every piece of coal and
use no more than necessary.
Each and every mercantile store
close at an early hour and remain
open only during the day except
ing Saturday night.
Every unnecessary light must
be out during all times.
Cigar stores and saloons are re-
Quested to open at s O'Clock and
close at IL o'clock.
Drug stores are asked to elimi-
nate nearly half of the custom
airy lights.
Order no coal as long as there
is sufficient supply on hand.
Cooperate with the fuel COM
mission and help guard waste of
coal.
Have Clearing House.
It was agreed at the session to ap
point committee of coal dealers tC
endorse every order for coal. Its
duties will comprise of investigating
every appeal for coal and if the party
asking for coal has sufficient supply
to refuse.
The business men were Informed
those present that no drastic actor
should be made to enforce these laws
stating that they are merely sugges
tons, but that If they were not carried
out means Of enforcing them would
be made The Rock Island city coun
Gil has agreed to help wherever its
services may be needed.
Mr.. Clevenstine stated that the sit
uation on the coal supply in Rock Is
land is serious and that only 800 tons
of coal are within the city limits. HI
stated that the people must work TO-
gether and carry the city through thi!
situation. He said it may last fol
only a week or longer or may be ovel
in two days. AS soon as a suppl.
reaches the city relief will be given
He asked the dealers not to think o
their business personally but to thinl
only of the fact that the coal crisis il
this city is at hand and that each mus
do bit to carry it over.
He declared that coal is on the wa,
and state officials are doing all within
their power to rush the fuel to Rocl
Island as soon as possible. He stated
that cars of coal are sidetracked al
along the Rock Island road and tina
until their arrival here the coal in tn
city should be conserved 1t was salt
that only five out Of twenty coal deal
ers in Rock Island have coal, making
a total OF 300 tons, all that is in tn
city to protect the public from tn
cold.
JEWISH PROBLEM IN
- POLAND DISCUSSED