The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-01-01
EVTIRE NATION SHIVERS
FROM LACK OF COAL
THE SITUATION is SERIOUS AND
THE RICH AND THE POOR
ALL SUFFER ALIKE.
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS FORCED
TO CLOSE UNTIL FUEL ARRIVES

To Saw Nothing Of the Pinch of Win
ter Thousands of Workers Are
Jobless. Everywhere the Condition
Is Practically the Same.
Storms and cold weather, combin-
ed with car shortage and traffic con-
gestion, has forced crisis in the coal
situation that has been menacing the
nation with a fuel famine since ear
" fall. In some sections of the
country railroads, mines and facto-
ries have been forced to suspend
operations, and churches and schools
have been closed because of lack of
fuel. In New York city, where suf-
fering was most acute, 100000 fam
idies were caught without an ade-
quate supply of coal. Rich and poor
suffered alike until they were able
to obtain limited quantities by stand
ing in long lines outside coal yards
or on shipping docks. In Ohio and
the Middle West thousands of men
we're forced into idleness by the sus-
pension of operations in plants man
ufacturing munitions of war. AS far
south as Baltimore the shortage was
felt, forcing the suspension of all in
dustrial operations except in govern
ment shipyards.
Reports indicate that the coal short
age has reached to practically every
section of the nation. In New York,
New England and other Eastern
states, and even in Pennsylvania,
where anthracite coal is mined, hum
dreds of dealers were caught with
only few tons of coal in their yards.
In Philadelphia the fuel administra-
tor directed the selling of coal in lots
not to exceed rs pounds to single
customer.
/ In Granite City, Ill, part of the
plant of the National Enameling q
Stamping company was closed. In De-
troit several large industrial plants
engaged in government work were
forced to suspend. In Ohio, near the
bituminous felcs, the call for steam
coal was such that whole trainloads
Of fuel intended for lake traffic was
commandeered to relieve the situa-
ton.
In Beaver Valley, Pa, women and
children were crowded into churches
and school houses to keep warm.
Street car systems were threatened
with suspension in many cities. In
fact, practically every known incon-
venience that can result from short
age of fuel on cold days was expe-
ienced during the cold wave that
swept the nation.
Secretary of Labor Wilson has IS
sued a statement declaring that the
labor situation is in no way respon-
sible for the shortage. Throughout
the entire coal mining region cond1-
tons are reported better than fol-
many months. There are only a few
Disputes and these are of a local ma
ture.
Gripped BY Cold Wave.
With temperatures ranging from
forty below zero in st. Paul and sc
degrees in Duluth to zero or slightly
above in other sections, the greater
part of the country was Monday IN
the grip of the severest weather OF
the year.
In Georgia drop 10 degrees
above zero was recorded.
In Northern New York trains hao
difficulty keeping up steam, owing
to the intense cold.
Everywhere the coal shortage Is
acute, and there is much suffering.
Temperatures Reported.
Temperatures as reported from va.
rlous cities follow: Upper Lake, N
40 below; Utica, N. Y, p below
st Paul, % below; Duluth, SO be
low; Sioux City, 10 below; Lacrosse
Wis., Is below; Oklahoma City,
above; Detroit, 5 above; Cleveland
above; Cincinnati, below; Spring
held, ILL.,, below; Dallas, II above
Chicago, zero.