The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-10
Garry 1t Away in Wagons
Sacks and Automobiles.
FE RELIEVES SITUATION
George SorensOn in Charge OF
Deliveries to the City.
Five Cars Released To Be Sent
Out in Small Lots.

The coal yards of the city were be-
sieged today by people from all walks
of life but with a. single ainl-to get
coal Some of them came in automo-
biles, some in wagons. some in bug
gies and many brought only baskets
and sacks in which to carry home the
precious substance that serves as an
armor against King Winters icy fangs.
All were sent away with fuel as far
as the dealers were able. There was
no discrimination; want and suffering,
not money and influence, were the ap-
peals heard by the coal men.
Transportation was the big obstacle
today. but in the case. of widows and
others unable to send for their fuel,
means was found of supplying them.
All the yards were swamped under
the avalanche of orders.
The Santa Fe materially relieved
the situation today. The road, thru
George Sorenson, freight agent, has
promised to supply the citizens coal
committee with five cars of coal every
day as long as possible. With the wood
that is brought in and the coal from
the strip mines, said to be on the
way. these cars are expected to help
greatly in abating the cold suffering.
These cars will be unloaded at the NC
CIeary-Dudley, Hargreavesy> McGrew
and Jackson Walker yards. McCleary-
Dudley will supply the shop districts
and the hospitals. Hargreaves the
South Topeka section. McGrew North
Topeka and Jackson-Walker the terri
tory in the vicinity of their yard.
The coal will be delivered in half-ton
lots.
Praise for Santa Fe.
Members of the citizens committee
were loud in their praise OF the Santa
Fe for its action.
Commissioner Wilbur Stanfield to-
day received a blanket order from the
regional fuel director at ST. Louis re-
to the city light plant as needed. This
will assure the city of light
The citizens wood committee, head
ed by w. o. Anderson, met at the
Elks' club, today noon and decided
that wood must be brought into the
city. regardless of the cost. The com
mittee is going ahead now with re-
doubled efforts at production
The domestic consumption OF coaf
in Topeka normally is $50 tons a day,
or about 25 cars. During weather such
as today, the consumption will mount
to 500 tons daily. according to Gull
ford Dudley, chairman of the coal
committee.
Advise Use OF Wood.
Decision was reached today by the
coal committee to ask Topeka citizens
to buy wood. The committee strong
ly advocates al system of burning part
coal and part wood. AS wood burns
more rapidly than coal, it is sug-
gested that wood be purchased and
burned in the day time. At night
the fires could be banked with coal
and would then hold over, keeping
buildings and residences warm, until
morning.
At late hour the committee de-
cided to send one of the five cars re-
leased this morning by the Santa F'e
to the yards of the Topeka Ice & Fuel
Co. It is believed this will aid in
more rapid distribution for the reason
that by scattering the coal among
widely separated yards deliveries may
be made with greater expediency on
account of shorter hauls.
The wood committee was saving
more wood and doing a larger business
today than on any previous day, ac-
cording to J. E. Wilson, manager of
the municipal wood yard at the crema-
tory. The yard caught up in cutting
the wood into stove lengths today.
Seven trucks were hauling from the
Willard farm and nine were being
used for city delivery.
A patriotic offer was made to the
committee today by William Bass, of
the plumbing firm of Bass & Linton.
The coal yard formerly run by Bass's
father. between Sixth and Seventh
streets on Adams. was placed at the
disposal of the city entirely free of
charge. The yard is ready for busi-
ness. complete with telephone and Of
flee equipment. 1t also is on a spur
of the Santa F'e. and. according 20 vii