Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 9, DeMotte, Jasper County, 23 January 1948 — U.S. WEATHER DEATH TOLL REACHES 87 [ARTICLE]

U.S. WEATHER DEATH TOLL REACHES 87

Short Supply of Fuel Is Still A Problem To North Central States Dwellers * A mass of cold air surged eastward over the Midwest today, sending temperatures down below zero for the third time in eight days. Forecasters promised that the new cold snap would not be as severe nor last so long as the two previous sieges of bad weather. But, they said, temperatures would be low enough to use up hundreds of thousands of gallons of the nation’s short supply of fuel oil. The cold air was borne by high winds which were expected to hit 40 miles per hour over the Great Lakes today and carry the cold into eastern states by tonight. The cold air mass whistled down the Missouri and upper river valleys last night from Canada and its leading edge passed over Chicago at midnight. The mercury dropped 10 degrees an hour in parts of Wisconsin and northern lowa. The eight days of bad weather were blamed, directly or indirectly, for a total oi> 87 deaths. Fifteen persons froze, two died of over-exertion and 69 died in fire caused by overheated stoves and furnaces. Officials in the North Central states continued to worry about shortages of gas and oil for fuel. Supply Short. Ashland, Wis., on Lake Superior had only enough fuel oil and kerosene left for five days and officials were rushing plans to ration available stocks to the town’s 14,000 residents. Mayor Orin Angwall of Marinette, Wis., also ordered emergency rationing of oil. Furniture dealers reported a rising demand for coal and wood stoves.