The Topeka State Journal

COAL FAMINE.

Chicago Is Almost Out of Fuel in Zero Weather.

Railroads Are Confiscating That Which Comes In.

Chicago, Dec. 20.-Chicago is facing a coal famine, and 15 degrees below zero within 24 hours is predicted by the weather bureau. Throughout the entire city big consumers of hard and soft coal are begging shippers to supply them, but without avail. The severe weather and floods through the coal mining districts have tied up railroads to such an extent that shipment is almost impossible. To add to the serious shortage railroad companies are exerting their prerogative of confiscating car loads of coal as fast as they arrive here, and are putting it to their own use. Large business houses are suffering severely for the want of coal and many concerns are hampered by reason of insufficient steam power. Today many owners of large buildings were besieging coal dealers and begging that they be supplied with sufficient coal to tide over the zero. At midnight a number of coal dealers who had been canvassing the situation in the city, reported that there was not more than 30 hours' coal supply in the city. If relief does not come by that time there will be much suffering, and many manufacturing plants will be forced to close. The prediction of the weather bureau is for a new record in low temperature for Chicago in the month of December. At midnight the mercury showed five above zero, and was falling slowly.