The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-02
FUEL Commission To HAVE
HELP, SURVEY TO Be MADE

ammunition to fight this army can
De secured, everything would be lost,
ana this ammunition, Mr.. Nagel
pointed out, was coal and fuel.
we may have to shorten business
hours, we may have to take coal out
OF peoples cellars to give to some
one else" the fuel commissioners de.
clared in opening the meeting, and
asking for opinions to help him and
his commission in graphing with the
situation.
Coal Men Explain.
James Cameron, one of the coal
dealers was asked to tell what the
real situation is. He said that while
there was coal en- route to Keokuk,
there was practically none in town.
Several car loads of coke are on the
way. but in these days promises are
made, and easily forgotten, Mr..
Cameron said. There were at least
five hundred people without fuel, and
there were certain necessary indus
tries which must have coal. In re-
Spouse to a question, he said the
normal consumption of coal per day
in Keokuk was five cars.
The situation as regards the Hotel
Iowa and the Keokuk Water Works
company was reported as extremely
critical. Efforts were being made to
get fuel released to the water works
company today.
Walter Brinker, another coal
dealer, corroborated all that Mr..
Cameron said, and assured the con.
ference that the coal men are doing
all they can, but must have help if
anything is to be done. 1t was going
to be up to the people to help out the
coal dealers, he said.
Coal Is in Sight.
John Fry told of the securing Of
fifteen cars of slack, four Of which
will go to the cereal plant and four
to be used for the water works COM
pany, but the rest was said to be
slated for Omaha. The meeting voted
to have Mr.. Fry take UP the matter
of holding this coal for Keokuk with
the fuel commissioner at Chicago.
A. c. Maxwell was asked about the
report that there were several hun
dred tons of coal stored in a plant
at Hannibal, and also about coal on
the tracks there The Burlington is
eighty cars at Hannibal and
the Wabash had seventy-five. OF
this coal some will be used to keep
the pumping station here going, II
needed.
Offers Of Fuel.
Father George Giglinger Of st.
Mary's, said that he would close his
school, and the coal that he had
would be available for the relief of
the needy and the poor. Rev. Har-
vey J. Moore of the First Baptist
church, offered ten tons from his
church for the same purposes, and
said that the protestant churches
would have union services. w. B.
Woolley offered the coal In the pub
lie school bins for the relief Of the
needy. The Very Rev. J. W. Gill
Iespie offered the coal at his school,
church and house for the relief of
the needy and suffering.
NJ. F. Baker offered coal in the
Grand and Hippodrome theaters, and
also offered either OF the theaters
free of charge for union religious
services Mr.. Thorpe of the Colo
Nal, offered the remaining ton which
This house has for relief. The Rev.
w. s. .. Lamont of st. Johns Epis-
copal church. offered their coal, or
offered to open the parish house TO
any who are unable to secure coal /
James T. Mccarthy offered part OF
The supply OF Ewers-McCarthy. He !
also suggested the shortening of
business hours, but this was left to
the committee of seven for final !
action.
J. P. Ingle suggested committee, |
and suggested finding out who has |
coal and who hasn't. The suggestion |
was made that the committee Of
seven be appointed, and Mr.. Joy sug- |
yested the survey. All of these |
actions were embodied formally in |
and were passed, and the |
uel administration is now on firm |
backed by the citizens in it's
fight against the snow and cold |
Weather and lack of fuel. |
Support is Pledged.
Support of the meeting was pledged |
o Fuel Commissioner Nagel on mo-
ion of Mr. Joy, and this support was !
pledged to the commissioner and his |
lew committee by rising vote.
The committee is holding it's meet
ng this afternoon at the Industrial |
rooms to formulate its |