The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-21
That Is What A. HI. Purdy OF
Edison Company Says.
Heat Must Be Kept in Once
and Store Buildings.
Topeka GOING THE LIMIT
Orders More Drastic Here Than
in Other Cities.
Grocery Stores Open Shorter
Vime Than Pool Halls.

A. H. Purdy. superintendent of the
Topeka Edison company, today salo
that the closing order placed in effect
this morning by c. H. Danner, local
fuel director would result in the saw
ing of but very little coal in the Edl-
son plant On the other hand, Purdy
declared the order would work
hardship on his power plant
The Edison plant furnishes the ma
jority of the steam heat, electric light
and electric power for business houses
affected by banners order
THE order" said Pprdy, takes
away part of our light and power
load, but we have to carry this LOAD
anyway because we must have the
steam exhaust for heating purposes
Must Keep Up Heat.
Cutting down of business hours IN
the offices and stores for which we
furnish heat does not lessen to any
extent tSle amount of heat demanded.
These offices and stores must nave
heat sufficient to keep their INSIDE
at moderate temperature all the
time or it will be Impossible to work
in them when they are opened
Heat cannot be cut off from these
places because they haven't enough
surplus radiation TO heat them quick
ly. The buildings we serve cannot De
heated on short notice.
.'If the temperature in these build
ings and offices is allowed to get low,
it takes just that much more coal and
steam to get them warm again
Will Comply With Order.
Outside of very small saving, the
order affords. US no relief. l do, not
say this to oppose the fuel administra-
ton; there is nothing for US to do but
take our medicine.
THE Edison company's supply OF
fuel Purdv asserts, is low. However,
the superintendent expects no shut
down -or-trouble unless temperatures
get extreme.
Reaction on C. H. banners hours
of business order shook the local fuel
administration to it's very foundation
today. Flaw after flaw in the order
was pointed out. by Topeka business
men, and grocers held the schedule up
to ridicule as to its justice by point
ing out that pool halls and cigar
stores are allowed to keep open two
hours longer every day than food
stores.
Grocerymen also pointed out that
Topeka is being asked to do more
than its share. or the remainder of the
United States is playing the role of
Stacker In Kansas City for in
stance, the fuel administration is al
lowing grocery stores to keep open
from Z o'clock in the morning until
O'Clock at night. The hours in To-
peka are from 8 to 5
Hardship Many.
In comparison With the four hours
cut from food store schedules, only
an hour and half are taken from the
regular business hours of department
Store;.
Closing of the lood stores at
O'Clock. it was pointed out by Ivan
Dibble of the Dibble grocery stores
today, will work a hardship on a great
number of laboring men who cannot
. 1ln Sytn hRfn : oil 1n0ly 4
have no one else to send. The Dibble
stores alone have one distinct squad of
Santa F'e men who buy between 5 and
o'clock. Early morning deliveries in
time for noon meals, it is said, are
eliminated by the o'clock morning
opening order.
Orders Enforced strictly.
Tine business houses of Topeka
must adhere to the time set for the
closing and opening of their various
businesses" said Fuel Dictator Dan
ner this morning. Nothing was said
in the order concerning the number
of hours business may stay open,
but where the order says to ) it
means . to 5. and not to hours open
from say noon to O'Clock The
hours published as the hours for the
various businesses to run are the hours
when the order is in effect"
With this statement Danner sent
glimmering the fond hopes of many a
storekeeper and householder of To-
peka concerning arrangements where
by they might continue business on
something like the accustomed plan.
For instance, one cigar store and pool
hall owne~ said that he expected to
open at noon and close at the usual
time That intention is now in the
discard if the Danner order is concIu-
sive.
Hits Drink ParlorS.
The night closing order will have
the biggest effect on the young sirs of
the city who have been in the habit of
indulging the ladies of their hearts in
a picture show followed by session
of soft drinks at one of the popular
soda fountains of the city. This form
of entertainment is now taboo, except
for the picture show part, for the most
of the fountains are in the drug stores
and the drug store hours close at 7
o'clock This hits the man who is
accustomed to spending his evenings
in the pool halls and billiard parlors
of the city with equal tearing effect.
1t seems that the housewives and
mothers of the city are due for a
sudden inclina ton on the part of their
husbands and their young pridefuls to
spend the evenings at home instead
of blossoming like frozen flowers on
the wind swept and lightless corners
of the city. Ten o'clock is the hour
the pool halls close.
Next in Importance comes the MEM
hers of that family who 'habitually
mt off the ordering of the days sup
DIies till the period just before break
fast From O'Clock in the morning
till o'clock in the evening the food