Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-04
COAL SUPPLY GONE,
D. c. C|T|zENS.FACE
FREEZING IN M|RE
Dealers Unable to Deliver
Fuel Becauseof lmpassa-
BILE Muddy Streets.
SIS PER TON EXTRA COST
PAID IN EMERGENCY CASE
Residents in Distress Can Get No
Relief Except Through Incon-
venience and Expense.

Danger of freezing in the midst OF
plenty, with the grim ghost Of illness
reaching out from a special back.
ground to lay low the women and
children compelled to stay in the cold
homes, were found by The Star re.
porter to be a reality in the vicinity OF
18th and Ingraham streets northwest
today. There, people living in homes
costing in the neighborhood Of $4,000
each and upward, are as helpless to
obtain coal for heat as the most pow
erty-stricken people of the city. All
because there are no streets" as
such.
Delivery wagons cannot get up to
the doors. and even those who buy
for a block or more, if they want it.
Wagons cannot get through the
streets and the nearest delivery point
Is 18th street.
IS Per Ton Extra Cost.
These people who today find them
selves bordering on freezing condi-
tions are foresighted. They contract
ed for coal weeks ago, but the coal
companies will not deliver it. They
cannot, for they know that their
trucks will become mired in the mud.
There is the instance on record of
an effort to stave off the illness
which follows living in a cold house,
accepted delivery at 14th street on
the car line. He paid IS a ton to
have it carried to his house by man
power 1t was that or the alterna-
tive of freezing.
to deliver furniture. 1t was mired
up to the body of the vehicle. 1t
stayed all night. Today two more
came. They were added to the list,
drawn in by the mud and mire, and
remained, giving the street the ap-
their heavy bodies stranded, their en-
gines silenced in defeat by the mud.
Realizing the danger that faces
them. unless spring comes soon to
break the hard winter, the people
are feeding coal into the gaping
though a coal famine exists. They
try to keep enough fire just to re-
move the chill. They cannot have
enough for comfort.
Cfnders Piled High.
Ton after ton of cinders has been
piled up by the District on the street
at an expense of hundreds of dollars,
only to make the street worse and
the mud deeper, according to F. B.
Figgis, 1850 lngraham street, one of
the many residents who besieged The
Stars street investigator today in
person and by telephone, pleading
for help in obtaining relief.
Night after night the scene may be
witnessed of these residents, with
display of the community spirit and
consideration for their fellow-men,
shouIdering heavy cans Of ashes.
making an attempt to fill up the deep
holes which the stranded trucks and
other vehicles make. But they realize
that it is an endless, hopeless task,
said Mr.. Figgis. with the only effec-
tive relief a proper paving of the
street. Others who called up re-
quested that their names be with
held. a woman on 18th street just
around the corner informed The Star
man over the telephone that they
were literally and fguratively strand
ed. She pleaded for all possible help
for relief which these people, who
pay high taxes. are willing to pay
for. if they can but obtain some re-
lief co enable them to enjoy to the
fullest extent the comforts of their
expensive homes.
To characterize the condition of In
graham. Jefferson and 18th streets as
q. river of mud and mire is putting 1t
mildly. The streets cannot be crossed
in safety. To leave the paved side
walks is to court danger like faunt-
ing a red flag at bull.
Automobiles MarOOned.
Automobiles of the people there
and most of them own automobiles
are marooned. Those which were in
the garage before the SHOWS and
nravy rains have to stay there, and
those that were out have to park on
them home. Knowing the condition
of the streets on which they live, and
having seen others stranded, they do
not try. These people are denied the
comforts of public improvements for
which they pay high taxes.
The House allowed $1,000 for the
paving of 1ngraham street east OF
14th street. The Senate appropria-
tions committee allowed it to stand
and the hope is expressed by the resi-
dents that it will be allowed by the
Senate when it considers the bill. Blu.
no mention was made of the other
streets in that vicinity, which are in
as bad if not worse condition. The
residents of the vicinity are prepared
to make a strenuous fight for its re-
tention, and are marshaling forces
in the Senate looking to its final ap.