Indiana daily times., 1920-04-12
CITY WARNED
GAS USING MUST
BE CUT IN HALF
Prospect of Famine by Next
Week Emphasized in State
ment to Public.
STRIKE ADDS TO PERIL

Indianapolis is confronted with
a gas famine and only strictest
economy in the use of gas will
save the situation, it was de-
clared in a statement issued to-
day by Mayor Jewett, E. |.
Lewis, chairman Of the state pub
lie service commission; Charles
F. Coffin, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce, and j. D. For
rest, general manager of the
Citizens Gas Company.
Use of gas must be cut by one-haIf.
Mr. Forrest said.
The city is consuming 10000 900 cubic
feet a day
By the first Of next week the famine
will be on if consumers do not heed
the warning, Mayor Jewett announced.
MAY HANDICAP HEAT
AND LIGHT SERVICE.
The heat and light companies OF the
city also will maintain service with DIFF
1culty in a very short time If shipments
Of coal are not received.
There is no danger Of shortage in
foodstufs. but industries and consumers
will suffer from a coal famine IN the
city a short time, coal men say.
The strike Of railroad yardmen added
the last straw to the gas companyB
heavy burden. Mr.. Forrest said.
From last November until the first Of
April the gas company was unable 20
buy coal, no restrictions were placed
on export.
The government had set price for coal
sold to public utilities.
Whom the COunparv ahYa fn
enter the market for coal it bought al IL
could, but has been unable to gain any
surplus supply or to expand to the
normal capacity OF its plant
Sc OF water gas equipment has re-
lieved the situation somewhat, but the
company is not equipped TO serve the
entire city with its present equipment
Another obstacle In the way Of water
gas manufacture is the shortage of fuel
oil
All fuel oil comes from west of the
Mississippi and the railroad strike has
caused an embargo on shipments into
Indiana.
EASTERN ROADS PUT
EMBARGO ON COAL.
Eastern railroads. have placed an EN-
barge against Indianapolis on coal ship
meRts.
The normal use of coal by the gas
Company is 500 tons day ood the
restricted use in March was 1920 tons
day.
Using fuel oil, the gas company could
run on its present basis about six days
with the oil available.
With cooperation of the public it is
hoped to extend that supply TO cover
two weeks, in which time it is hoped the
railroad strike will be settled.
without gas for cooking the people
of Indianapolis could not live" said Mr..
Forrest
Until the situation is relieved the pub
lie should confne itself to the use of gas
far only those purposes for which 1t il
essential to the life Of the community.
ROADS PUSHING
LOCAL FREIGHT.
Railroads operating in indianapolis
are making strong efforts to move
freight and avoid a general business
paralysis, which business men say woul6
inevitably follow a long tieup by trans
portation facilities.
Railroads. claimed that all perIshabIe
foodstufs are being moved, and THAI
there is no danger of a food shortage
in the city.
Failure Of railroads to move coal. be-
cause of the switchmen's strike, how
ever, has brought public utilities and
| large industries, which use immense
amounts of coal, up against a serious
situation.
John A. George, president of the Indi-
| annapolis Coal Company, said that retail
ers of the city can take care of the de-
mands of consumers for q few days or a
week
'An OF the coal companies have coal in
transit or in the yards he said.
IF the strike is ended in a week, there
win be no serious result regards coal"
Some retail dealers are unable to i'll
| orders for coal today.
At the Office Of J. W. Coneys, super
intendent Of the Pennsylvania, It was
said that the coal movement had not
been greatly reduced by strike conditions
as it had been far below normal for many
months because of the car shortage
1--WE have been able to handle all the
] coal we could get into the local yards"
said a Pennsylvania official.
Big Four officials, however, said that
the coal situation will become extremely
| hazardous if the strike lasts a week
SITUATION SERIOUS
FOR UTILITIES.
THE most serious aspect of the coal
situation is its effect on public utilities
! OF the city, 1t was said at the Big Four
| office
"We'n make a special effort to take
care of them-thus far we have sue
| ceeeded in serving them"
Charles O'Brien Murphy, president of
the Merchants Heat and Light Company,
advanced the suggestion that the utilities
companies should take steps to prevail on
switchmen to move coal for them
"It might be taken up through the
governor or some other authority" said
Mr. Murphy.
Coal movement has been sadly ham
pered since last November by the car
shortage and a further setback of this
! time would be very serious"
! Business at the livestock yards is at a
standstill. Kingan & Co. are still doing
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