The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-28

Topeka public schools will have to
close down by the end of next week
at least. unless immediate relief is
obtained I'm the critical fuel shortag
A. ]. Stout. city superintendent, pre-
dicted today.
Fully half of the schools have only
threes days supply of coal now" Mr..
Stout declared.
With the city in the grip of severe
November storm. the coal situation in
Topeka today was becoming more seri-
Gus hourly.
While there was still sufficient fuel
on hand and in the possession of the
railroads for residences and industries
to skimp along for few days. hope of
relief was placed in state or govern
ment success in working Kansas
mines.
The possibility that union trainmen
may refuse to haul coal not mined by
the union miners was discussed today.
No matter how many cars of coal may
be produced at the mines. it will be
useless unless transportation can be-
obtained So far no official statement
from officers of the railway brother
hoods has been made. but rumors of
action by southern Kansas trainmen if
forced to haul state coal have been
persistent.
1t is known that many trainmen in
southern Kansas are in sympathy with
the striking miners. Similar. -altho
less radical sympathies. were said to
prevail in other sections of the state.
While no complete suspension of
any Topeka industries have been re-
ported in the past few days. many
plants are curtaiIing their operations
in an effort to make their meager fuel
supply last longer. Some are burning
oil.
Quits Making Ice.
The Seymour Packing company has
! Il loo lT~O
of its trade and storage. Only few
days of life for this company remain
/ unless more fuel is obtained, it was
said
The Topeka Ice 8, Fuel company
! was protecting its storage but other
wise operating at IS per cent OF nor
NAL. No men have been laid off, how
ever, owing to rebuilding and remodel
ing activities. Even at this reduced
rate the company can operate only
few days without more fuel.
The City IL, Delivery has installed
oil burners and will begin to use them
tomorrow. This will enable the plant
to resume normal operations, 1t was
stated. There appeared to be plenty
of fuel oil in the city
Railroad companies this morning
reported but little coal on hand in the
Topeka yards. The Union Pacific had
none it was declared, the coal it was
holding having been distributed under
emer gency orders to various towns and
] cities The commercial coal held by
| the Rock Island was practically
cleaned up. Nine cars of dealers coal
were being held in local yards. but
there was none for commercial or
steam plant use
There were only thirteen cars In
! the Santa Fe yards and of these eight
contain Edison coal. The remaining
| five cars were part commercial and
| part dealers coal.
Up until this time the commercial
aspect of the fuel shortage far over
shadowed the residence situation, but
with the severe cold spell and driving
| blizzard the situation in scores of To-
| peka homes is becoming acute. Deal
ers are in position to ration fuel in
| half-ton lots to homes absolutely
/ without heating facilities for a few
| days
| After that the situation will be
serious" H. L. Peppmeyer. local fuel
administrator. declared
Coal TO Edison Plant.
/ Seven more cars Of coal were re-
leased to the Topeka Edison company
by the regional commission of the
United States railroad administration
at st Louis. These cars are now on
the Missouri Pacific tracks here. The
/, release was obtained by committee
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