Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1903 — COAL SITUATION SUMMARIZED. [ARTICLE]

COAL SITUATION SUMMARIZED.

In Chicago a special grand jury began an investigation of the alleged coal conspiracy under instructions from Judge McEwen, who told tin- jurymen that the situation spells “crime and infamy.” Witnesses testified to the existence of a ring to control die market. Detroit “get coal” convention committee decided at meeting to reconvene fqll body in Washington to demand federal action. Coal famine at Arcola, 111., was broken by the seizure of sixteen cars of coal destined for Chicago. Preachers, bankers and policemen aided in the raid. Tenants in St. Paul houses are tearing up back stairs and other woodwork that can be dispensed with to use for fuel. Mayor Low of New York asked for a conference with the presidents of coal roads with a view to relieving the famine in that city. Milwaukee authorities arranged to secure 10,000 tons of anthracite from Canada within a week to relieve the shortage. Great suffering prevails at Philadelphia. and people who cannot afford to burn gas are in a deplorable condition. , Wealthy people at Boston depend on gas or oil stoves, but the wants of the poor are well supplied owing to energy of charitable societies. Heavy snowstorms, accompanied by blizzards, swept the North and middle West, causing much suffering, owing to lack of fuel. Railroad trains on many roads were delayed. • Fuel famine, coupled with rigorous weather, has caused the illness of 200,000 persons in Chicago. AJams County (Neb.) farmers are burning corn worth 35 cents a bushel. Anti-trust sermons were delivered in many Chicago pulpits Sunday: the Rev. R. A. White hoped coal famine would hasten public ownership of mines; the Rev. J. A. Milburn declared socialism will be fostered. Ordinance making combination to raise coal prices a misdemeanor punishable by S2OO fine was introduced in the Chicago City Council. Nearly 13,000 cars of soft coal are held by dealers in railroad yards of Chicago suburbs, according to Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. «

Chicago correspondence: ONSIDERING the paramount im((j. portauce of coal as a necessity of Ky life, it is not surprising that the menace of a continued shortage should have atirred public opinion so deeply throughout the country. There la no mistaking the signs of the apprehension which underlies tlie present movements In every important center in the country. The congressional investigation at Washington, Mayor Low's call for a conference in New York, the appeal issued by Mayor Maybury of Detroit for joint action on the part of Governors and Mayors and the prosecution begun in Chicago before a grand jury are indications of a serious and widespread agitation. There la evidently a general agreement with the sentiment expressed by Judge McEwen in his charge to tlie special grand Jury that such nn interference with the coal supply as is now charged is “a crime and nn infamy.” The “oldest inhabitants” remember when hard coni cost S2O a ton in Chicago. It was in 1860 or 1870, but the S2O was depreciated paper representing really sl3. The special Cook County grand jury is now investigating the coni question. It is alleged by business men that there is a greater volume* of coni in Chicago this year tbnn there was last year, when there were no complaints of scarcity. It is asserted that there are thousands of cars tilled with coal in nnd nltout Chicago whose owners will not have them unlonded and their contents delivered to consumers because they have conspired to force up prices. In Arcola and other towns in tbs West snd Northwest tho grlevsnce is not so much the price of coal as the lack of It.