The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-11-29
FUEL SITUATION CALLS FOR
PROMPT ACTION.

WIN no assurance illdl any ~
lief is forthcoming at any def
mite time, the fuel situation il
Chickasha is one that calls for i'm
mediate action if acute suffering
is to be prevented. Even though
the coal strike should end to
morrow, with stocks already de
pleted to the danger point ano
traffic movements slow and I'M
certain, there is little probability
that the needs Of the community
could be supplied.
The Chamber Of Commerce has
had the matter under considera-
tion and has decided that the
problem is one which must be
handled by the mayor and coun-
ell. A duty and responsibility
Of the grayest nature, therefore,
rests upon the city officials. That
the mayor and council realize the
situation in a measure is evident
from their action in Seeking a
supply of wood for the city.
According to MIR. Clark, city
treasurer, arrangements have
been made with an Oklahoma
City concern for the delivery Of
two carloads Of wood per week
to Chickasha but this quantity
is by no means adequate and the
delivery Of it will be subject to
all the delays incident to railway |
traffic at this time. Efforts are
also being made to draw on the
railroad supplies Of coal but even
if this is done. no great relief
Will be obtained since the rail
road stocks are already running
low, it is stated.
Two lines of action looking to
relief are open to us First is a
program of rigid conservation
and to this end some sort of local
fuel administration must be in
To continue the unre-
stricted use Of our coal for all
as we are now doing. in
the face of the uncertainty of Sc
curing more, is to court distress
and suffering in the near future.
relishes the prospects of
having industries crippled or the
use OF fuel restricted in anyway,
but we must realize that the
which confronts lis
'alls for extraordinary measures.
A press dispatch from Kansas
'ity tells Of meeting Of the
'hamber Of Commerce and the
'uel administration at which it
vas agreed that the schools will
'e closed beginning next Mon
lay the large supplies Of coal
which the board Of education has
N hand being thus released for
consumers. Office build
ngs are to be open only from 9
+. m, till p. m. and stores are
cquested to follow the same
chedule. Services are to be held
{ the churches only ON Sunday
nd other measures for reducing
he consumption of coal are also :,
eng devised. The pinch that has
cen caused by the present coal
pell IN Chickasha should be suf- o
icient to show us that some SINH 4
lr measures must be taken here. v
The other line of action is to
IKE immediate steps for securing
n adequate supply Of wood and, fl
there are no insuper- el
bic difficulties in the way in this
irection We cannot afford to
epend upon the meagre supply jc
lat is promised by the Oklahoma Il
lty concern, with which the W
ty is dealing, especially when
lief is near at hand. Within +
ON fifteen to twenty miles of =
and in some eases y
neh closer, there is plenty Of
mber to be had and we should
Sc no time in making it avail =,
'le TO the people of the city. 1t
true that there are few wood
owes in Chickasha and the burn
g of wood in a coal stove is not
e most convenient thing in the
Drld but it beats freezing by a h
ng shot and we shall be guilty 4
ineXcusable folly if we fail to \
he advantage of the opportm-
to secure this sort Of fuel be-
re severe weather causes more
ute suffering.
Under the existing cireum-
lnces it is the rankest kind Of
,lishness to gamble on the
ances of the strike ending. The