Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-07
Terminal Committee An
pounces That City Will Be
Called Upon to Make Addi-
tionaI Sacrifices This Week.
DRASTIC CURTAILMENT
IN RAILROAD SERVICE
Far Reaching Effects Of Fuel
Famine Impressed Upon
Industries and Owners as
Supply Here DWindIes.


night announced that it will call
upon Omaha this week to make ad-
ditional sacrifices to meet the ext
gencies of the coal stringency, ex-
planning that the receipts of coal
in Omaha during the last week have
not been sufficient TO meet even the
restricted demand.
at appears at this time that the
receipts of the coming week will
be less than those of the last week"
was a statement made by the coal
committee in report issued last
night.
The committee was not ready
yesterday to state what additional
rules and regulations will be nee
essary to meet the situation, but
it indicated that it is apparently
essential that greater savings OF
fuel will have to be observed III
homes and industries.
Depend on Wyoming.
Explaining the local situation at
the end of the week, in somewhat
concrete manner, the committee
stated that the Rock Springs mines,
in southern Wyoming, are now pro-
ducing about 5 per cent Of normal
production and that Omaha is al
most entirely dependent at this time
on these coal fields. In the northern
or Sheridan coal district three large
mines have been closed, resulting
last week in only 80 per cent OF the
previous weeks production. East
ern shipments have been reduced to
minimum and nothing is to be
expected from the southern tields
or through the north from the lake
docks.
In its weekend statement last
night the coal committee an
nounced: "The committee is count
ing on the public's voluntary CO.
operation in this respect Coal deal
ers are cognizant of the seriousness
of the situation and the committee
is redoubling its efforts to insure
only necessary distribution. Few
cases reported to the committee
have indicated any inclination on
the part of the public to attempt
to obtain coal where a sufficient
supply is on hand to meet imme-
date requirements. Investigation
of these cases by the committees
inspectors, with the aid of the police
department, nave resulted in rapid
readjustment so as to insure the
protection of the public interests" !"
Other Plants Must Close.
The far-reaching effects of the
coal famine was impressed upon
nearly every home in Omaha at the
close of a depressing week. The
effects of the Garfield order, cut
ting off nonessential industries
from coal supplies, already has
weighed heavily upon some local
plants and others are doomed 20
temporary closing during the COM
ing week. The effect on the indus
trial life is considered the most
serious phase of the situation.
Retail merchants yesterday made
the most of the limited shopping
hours between 10 a. m. and 5 p. M,
and the result was that the stores
were crowded with Christmas shop
pers and the usual Saturday rush.
Drastic Rail Curtailments.
Drastic passenger curtailments
have been announced on all railroad
lines into Omaha, effective at 1901
a. IN. tomorrow. There will be an
estimated reduction of one-third of
the passenger train service on main
and branch lines. The new schedule
of the Burlington takes off 20 trains.
| Union Pacific officials believe that
curtailments on their lines will save
500 tons of coal day. The Over
land and Pacific limited trains will
be run only in single sections and
exclusive observation and parlor
cars will be taken off. Service be-
tween Omaha and Lincoln, Mime
apolis and Sioux City has been ma
terially reduced. 1t is explained by
railroad officials that travellers may
experience the difficulty of being re-
uuired to wait for following trains
when one train is filled to capacity
Snow last night and predictions
for colder weather today added to
the discomforting situation. Snow
lnterfered last night with the limited
street car service which conveyed
belated home-goers. Omaha has
never before presented such a
gloomy appearance as was observed
last night in the business district,
with stores darkened and the electric
lights dimmed by the falling snow.
The hotels shone out invitingly in
the darkened vistas.
Many Families Destitute.
| The Visiting Nurse association of
| Omaha has received reports OF des-
titute families in need of coal. Cases
investigated and recommended by
this association are being supplied
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