Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 291, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1919 — COUNTRY TAKES VIGOROUS STEPS TO EASE FAMINE. [ARTICLE]

COUNTRY TAKES VIGOROUS STEPS TO EASE FAMINE.

Chicago, 111., Dec. 3.—More strenuous efforts wdre put forth today by the state and Municipal officers and representatives of industry over the country, to conserve the remaining supply of bituminous coal in the producing states to replenish this supply. \ The day was marked by more shutdowns and restrictions and added reports of distress, especially in the west and southwest. There were almost no reports of increased production. Summarized, the fuel situation tonight stood as follows; , Governor Frederick D. Gardner, of Missouri, announced that his state would take over the surface mines in Barton county for operation by volunteers Unless the miners resumed work by tomorrow night at the fourteen per cent increase in wages. State troops are on the ground for emergency purposes. —Eleven strip ralrres wrere in operation by the state today in Kansas. Governor McKelvie, of Nebraska, continued to enlist volunteer workers for the mines in producing states and an offer was made •to furnish Missouri with such a contingent. Wyoming was another state that today was facing the system of volunteer mining as a result of the chaotic situation there. Although union officials had ordered the strikers to resume work many of the mines were idle. Chicago and northern Illinois industry and business will be' put on a six and one-half hour a day working basis tomorrow, the Illinois public utilities commission announced today. A similar order will be issued for southern Illinois tomorrow. Operators in lowa prepared an ultimatum, giving the union miners until December Btb to return to work. If work is not resumed by that_ date, the mines will be reopened with whatever competent labor can be obtained, according to the operators. The railroad administration nbuhced a system of“discountable" credit slips, acceptable at all federal reserve banks to pay operators immediately for coal shipments. Four of the twelve blast furnaces of the Gary steel works were banked ' and a shutdown of two more this week was in prospect. Two moves against alleged profiteering was started. At St. Louis the southwestern regional coal committee asked Fuel Administrator Garfield to fix a minimum price for fuel oil equal to prices before the miners went on strike. In Kansas Attorney General Hopkins, ordered an inquiry into reports of profiteering in the sale of wood. With nearly zero weather in some of the western states the situation was becoming almost unbearable. At Imperial, Neb., not a pound of coal was in the town and the. people were buying fence posts for fuel. Belfast and Wayside, Neb., are also out of coal. At some places ear corn is being burned. All schools at Cedar Rapids, la., will close tomorrow. At Virginia, 111., all schools locked their doors today.

Mrs. Frank Babcock, son Frank and daughter Hope, of Goodland, were in Rensselaer today.