Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-12-01
Coal SITUATION
IN WEBSTER CITY
IS very SERIOUS
City Council to Meet To-
night and may put Dras-
tic Conservation in
Force.
LIGHTS OUT AT 8
Compelled to Furnish gas
Company With Coal
Supply, Also.

Although one car of coal was releas-
ed to the city this morning by the fuel
administration, from the Illinois Cen
I trail railway company, this will last
only Il short time and the council at its
meeting this evening will probably
authorize City Manager q. j. Long to
shut ri lights at O'Clock and power
ut O'clock each evening, beginning to-
morrow. 1t is likely that the schools
here will close in a few days. AS the
court house is heated by the school
plant, the county officials will be up
against the proposition OF heating their
offices with oil stoves or in some other
/ way.
The city had previously contemplated
turning off the current for lights at 8
o'clock. but, the situation has become
SO serious that d still further curtail-
its proposed program of. conservation
the city will cut down the amount of
coal used to sabont 10 tons daily, when
ordinarily at this time of year Is tons
q day is used.
BY adopting these measures and with
the cooperation of the people in saving
lights, it is believed there will be
enough coal to keep the plant running
for probably week and Il half or two
weeks longer.
Schools May Close.
The school board is to hold meet
ing also this evening and will discuss
the question of closing the schools OF
the city. While there is plenty of coal
at the school heating plant to keep
these institutions open, ii the serious
ness Of the situation continues this
coal could be portioned out to the city
and thereby relieve the shortage con-
siderably.
No action as to closing of churches
has been taken, but they may be asked
to hold union service Sundays, thereby
heating only the one church.
At present, with strict conservation,
there is enough coal on the tracks here
to furnish hOusehclders until January
!, but this has not been released ana
cannot be released unless such an order
is received from the railway admins
tratiOn.
Cut Down Heat.
The Central Heating company Is pre-
pared for about one more week, ana
unless coal is received before the end
Of that time, it will be forced 70 close
down. At present only one boiler Is
being kept in operation, although gen
orally iIlc SONt NSntuSA - t.>.
two to heat the business houses ana
flats. Patrons Of the company are bear
ing the Inconvenience of less heat with
few complaints, realizing that 1t is bet
ter to have little heat than none al
all. a..
| Railway trains coming into this city
today were all late, due to the fact
that it is becoming difficult to secure
steam coal to operate the trains. How
ever, the passenger schedule on DOth
roads and on the interurban has not
! been cut.
Gas Company Low.
Another important phase entered IN
to. the situation today when the gas
company reported that 1t had coal
enough on hand to last only three days.
The city, however, has agreed to take
care of the companyNs interests ana 70
help supply it with coal as long as the.
c;ty plant has coal. This makes an
added reason for city conservation.
Unless strict conservation OF gas is also
observed. patrons may he without TINS
necessary commodity if coal is not
secured.