The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-03
Laundries Latest Concerns AZ
fected by Fuel Shortage.
National and ThrOop Hotels in
Move to Avert Disaster.

Celluloid collars and soiled socks
are due to prevail in Topeka soon un-
less laundry owners. succeed in their
appeal today for coal. None of the
laundries can operate over a week on
their present supply of fuel and some
face immediate shutdown, according
to one Iaundryman today.
The laundry owners met Tuesday
night and drew up resolutions stat
ing the seriousness of the coal
shortage facing them and the i'm
portance of their business to the pub
lie and urging the proper Authorities
to release coal A committee, con-.
dry; Charles Mathews, Mutual; A. c..
Heating. White Star, and w. p Ly-
man, of the City Hand, will call on
H. L. Peppmeyer. city fuel admins
traitor and F. E. Nipps, Missouri
Pacific agent to get coal now standing
on the NJ. P. tracks released to the
laundries. The committee may then
appeal to the regional committee in
Chicago. The laundrymen understand
there are six or seven cars on the
Missouri Pacific tracks.
Supplies Getting Lower.
"Laundries were placed in the sec
ond class on the government priority
list" said Mr.. Lyman today, but our
resolution appealing for coal states
that laundries are essential to main
tenance of hospitals and hotels. We
must have coal or we will have to
shut down. We have about two days
supply, the Topeka and the Gem are
running with a hand to mouth supply
and the Mutual and White Star have
only about weeks coal ration"
The big flour mills in Topeka either
have already or are contemplating
converting their furnaces to the use
of OIL Ismert-Hincke and the Kaw
Milling company already have oil
burners installed. The Piersen Manu-
featuring company has four days sup
ply of fuel on hand and intends to
convert its boilers to oil after that runs
out. The costliness of installing oil
burners will prevent many of the
smaller plants from taking this avenue
of ESCAPE from shutdown.
The National hotel is burning coke
at present but finds it unsatisfactory.
The management is now trying to get
Edison heat and, if unable to do so,
may have to put in oil burners. The
ply and is burning wood with the coal.
Retailers Are Gloomy.
The coal companies are still pessi
mistic. mo coal" is the song they
sing to wouldbe customers. The To-
peka Ice and Coal Co. is entirely sold
out OF WOOQ eVeHs DuI mas enough
fuel on hand to run its plant two
weeks.
Plumbers say they are receiving few
calls to repair breaks in frozen pipes.
The people are watching these care
fully, it is indicated. In this connec-
ton, Commissioner Stanfield today
voiced the following warning:
Every family in Topeka should
know how to shut off the water in
their homes in case of a freeze-up or
bursting pipe. Large quantities of
water now wasted could be saved.
Coal is burned to pump the water that
is wasted just the same as for the
water that is used"
Stanfield also suggested that it Is
not the business of the water depart
ment to repair broken pipes. a
plumber should be called at once in
case of trouble.
H. L. Peppmeyer, city fuel admins
traitor, when questioned about the
laundry fuel shortage, said two laun-
dries would be supplied with coal. He
would not divulge their names or why
they should be given a preference.