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■'M • \
NIGHT EXTRA—Enforced Holiday Brings Mrf—NIGHT EXTRA
HARRISBURG ifSgiil TELEGRAPH
LXXXVII No. 20 14 PAGES
ALL SUPPLIES EXCEPT FOOD,
FUEL AND MUNITIONS HELD UP
RESERVOIR IS
EMPTY AS CITY
FACES
Fire Hazard Increased to Danger Point When Reservoir Falls to New Low Record;
Council Plans Drastic Action to Meet Situation; lnductries May Be Closed to
Avoid Suffering in Private Families; Fire Department Hindered in Its Work When
Mains Go Dry; Many Report Shortage Now
At 4 o'clock this afternoon all industrial and
business plants were ordered to stop using water
for manufacturing purposes. Elevators oper
ated by water also were ordered to stop. Ex
emtions only were granted to hospitals, public
utilities and milk stations.
To all intents and purposes, the city to-day is without water.
The reservoir fell to two feet at 2 o'clock this afternoon when
Harrisburg's representative business men went into conference
with Commissioner S. F. Hassler.
All industry probably will stop if the shortage does not take
an unexpected change for the better. Danger of fire without water
to fight it has had the fire department from the chief down dreading
an alarm for hours. 1
At 2.30 o'clock Mr. Hassler warned all users of water not to
waste a drop for any purpose whatever, to bank all fires under boil
ers and ot to open a faucet unless it is absolutely necessary. "Use
melted snow in the homes," was his request.
At 3 o'clock water was running in few of the homes.
City water is needed to operate the steam heat plant of the
Light and Power Company.
Harrisburg's water supply situation is gra lually becoming more serious with the resu
that Commissioner Hassler may ask City Conn il at its specin' n:eetin this afternoon to civ
him power to curtail the supply to all industria plants in the city. Exceptions may be made ii
cases of plants at work on government orders.
At 7 ./clock this mornug the gauge at the c ty reservoir showed that the water dept was 7
teet, less than a third the noimaJ depth. At 10 o'clock there ii.id been no change Pract : ail"
the entire Allison Hill district is without proper water pressure and complaints were b-in" re
ceived this morning at the water department office. Unless drastic steps are taken the errtir
city will be suffering from acute water famine within the next two days it was said
Commissioner Gross, superintendent ot the park and '.ire de *
partments, dtclaicJ that something must be done at on: to,
protect the city against serious lire loss. (
"Last night there was a fire on the Hill. But for the quicki
work of the hremen there would have been a serious loss be
cause there was lint a sufficient supply of water for plug streams.'
Chemical tanks had to be used fortunately there was no!
need for a pressure stream of water. I am certain that a berious'
tire in the city now would find Ilarrisburg without means toj
light it, not in fire fighting equipment but in water supplv. Jf |
necessary we must cut off industrial plants until the reservoir cani
be filled again. With less than eight feet of water the citv is
lacing a famine."
To Cut Off I'lant
With the entire water supply of
the city exhausted, Mayor Keister
late to-day appointed a committee
to meet at once and decide which
manufacturing plants and other large
consumers of water should be cut
off from the city supply for the next
twenty-four hours.
This is the first time since the
Hood of ISB9 that the city reser
voir has become practically empty
and it has been necessary to shut
off water from industrial plants.
Committee Named
The committee includes Commis
sions llassler, W. P. Starkev of the
Harrisburg Pipe and Pipe Bending
Works; F. 15. Mussel - , president of
the Harrisburg Railways Company;
i\ M. Kiltwasser, Harrisburg • Light
and Power Company; John A. Af
fleck. Harrisburg Shoe Manufactur
ing Company and B. F. Allen, Har
risburg Foundry and Machine
Works.
Its recommendations are being
written this afternoon and as soon
us completed Mayor Keister Is to
?mbody them in a proclamation
which becomes effective at once.
Wants Safeguard
The purpose of the drastic action
is to safeguard the city against fire,
provide water for domestic use and
Cor the city's public utilities.
All the manufacturers present at
Ihe conference in Council chamber
this afternoon were directed to bank
their fir*s and cut down on all water
I'sed. Half-hourly readings of me
ters will be made during the remain
der of the day and all night. All
hotels, apartment houses and other,
large consumers are warned to con
serve all water possible, bank lires
t'nder boilers and take other similar
precautions.
Fear nig Fire
As a lire precaution It has been
decided to warn all residents to!
lako every possible measure to safe
guard against a blaze. Household
ers; also are notified to cut dowh on
ill water used unless it is absolutely
necessary. This includes water for
bath, toilet and .similar purposes,
it was also suggested that snow
be melted and then boiled and used
V wherever possible for domestic pur
r poses.
At the conference tins afternoon
| the entire water supply situation
i was thoroughly discussed. it was
reported that a complete inspection
; of the pipe lines had been made
during the last few days and no leaks
| had been discovered. Another in
j vestigiition may be made in order
i to discover if possible any waste be
| cause of leaks.
To Fngagc Fx pert
The city water department late
to-day got in touch with the Public
Utilises Bureau of Philadelphia, and
; will engage an expert to come to
the city at once and thorough
investigation of the entire water
works.
While the special meeting of
Council to-day was called primarily
for the purpose of approving the
bor.d of City Treasurer-elect Weber,
i it is believed Council will devote
( much t.mc to consideration of the
j water supply situation.
Ourlng the last two wj*ks the
water in the reservoir has been
dropping steadily despite efforts
made by city officials to stop all
i wasting and urging residents to con
serve wherever possible. It is un
; derstood the commissioners will do
| everything possible to guard the
supply for Individual users p.nd for
| this reason are considering shutting
i off the industrial plant supply.
Impossible to Gain
j The two old pumps now in use
at the pumping station are sending
| at least 11,000,000 gallons dally into
the reservoir, but with the wasting
of water city ofliclVils declare it has
been impossible to gain in the sup-
I ply.
"The wasting of water because of I
residents letting hydrants, spigots
ond other outlets open to prevent
pipes from freezing Is largely re
sponsible for present conditions. Un
til the cohl weather lilt the city the
old pumps were meeting all de-
HARRISBURG, FA , WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 23, 1918.
Watch Your Water
Boilers and Spigots
PIKUCi: J. BR.WLET, city
plumbing inspector, In a
statement to-day in connec
tlon with the water supply situa
tion urged all residents to take
proper precautions lo prevent
pipes lrom freeling, and said that
there is 110 need to keep faucets
or spigots open if eare is taken.
"l'ipes running through cellars
should 119 wrapped with woolen
cloths or mineral wool to protect
thein. in case the cellar is not
heated. It would be advisable,
too, for all householders to
examine the cellar carefully, see
that all windows are tightly
closed, and all crevices shut, so
that there is no draft.
"In houses in which there are
hot water boilers during the pres
ent shortage, it Is important that
the" I toiler does not become empty.
So long as there is water in the
boiler and It Is not drained there
is no danger. In case the boiler
Incomes empty and there is no
water supply, residents may be
compelled to bank their lires, be
cause If the boiler pl|K-s become
dry and overheated water coin
ing into contact with them on the
inside will cause un explosion.
1' xtrcme care Is necessary In such
cases. To co-operate with the
water department in the present
situation is the chief, object and
every resident should take the
necessary steps to protect the
pipes so that faucets and spigots
*re not opened and any wasting
s stopped."
mande. Since that time the water
supply has been decreasing slowly "
Commissioner llassler said to-day!
Too Much Waste
"Manufacturing plants probably
waste much, too, and officials can
help by instructing employes to con
serve wherever possible, it will be
at least two weeks before the new
pump is repaired as the big thir
teen-ton casting is just being moved
and will not be attached and ready
for use before that time. It will take
at least a week to place it and an
other week for the concrete to set."
Mayor Keister, in a letter from J.
Horace McFarland, secretary of the
Municipal League, has been asked
to get In touch witli city Industrial
[Continued on l'agc 12.]
Y.M.C.A.DRIVE
IS ASSURED OF
FULL SUCCESS
Eighty-Four of 500 New Mem
bers Secured nt Cam
paign's Opening
\V ith eighty-four memberships re
ported at the end of the tirst day's
work, Y. M. C. A. workers are con
fident that their drive for 500 new
members will go "over the top" in a
very short time.
Team workers and captains will
meet at supper at the Y. M. C. A.
building every night, to report re
sults. The campaign will end Satur
day night.
At an enthusiastic gathering of
teamworkers, captains and the exe
cutive committee at supper in the
Y. M. G. A. last night, reports of
various teams showed that each
member was eager to do his part,
and to make good in the campaign.
After a prelude of singing in which
"The Old Qray Ware" and "Over
There" played prominent parts. Dr.
Kobert Bagnell. pastor of the Grace
Methodist Ghurch, gave a brief talk,
telling the men of the work of the
Y. it. G. A.
"it is quite as important to put
the Y. M. G. A. on the map at home
as it is in the camps," he said, em
phasizing the fact that in the camps,
the men ale safeguarded, and in the
[Continued on Page 11.]
SIX BIG PLANTS
USE HALF WATER
PUMPED IN CITY
Municipal League, in Letter
to Mayor Keister, Shows
Danger of Famine
Demands of some of the larger in
dustrial plants on the city's water
supply is shown by J. Horace Mc-
Farland, secretary of the Municipal
League, in a letter to Mayor Keister.
The letter follows:
"I wish respectively to direct your
attention to one phase of the water
situation cloiiely approximating a
water famine now besetting this city,
in which you as the executive head
of the city can, it is believed, un
der the police power within your
control, so act as to materially re
duce the very grave hazard under
which the city now exists.
"Official reports this afternoon in
dicate that the reservoir contains ap
proximately eight feet of water,
whereas its normal content is twen
ty-five feet in depth. With the
[Continued on Page 12.]
REPUBLICANS
ASK WAR BODY;
VETO LIKELY
. ;
1 Presidential Ax Expected il'
Forces Bill
Through
By Associated Press
Washington. Jan. 2 3.—Confer
ences to-day between Senate admin
istration loaders handling President
Wilsons fight against the military
committee's bills to create a war
■cabinet and munitions director, vir<
tually decided that reference of the
war cabinet measure to the military I
committee will not be opposed. Thus'
the initial clash has been avoided.!
This plan was decided upon, ad
ministration spokesmen said, not in
fear that they lacked votes for a test I
of strength, but rather to avoid !
broadening the schism with the
White House and also to follow |
usual procedure of legislation.
Vigorous debate, however, is ex- !
[Continued on Page 12.]
i
FARMER VISITORS
Take home a souvenir
of Harrisburg in the
form of Uncle Sam's
Thrift Stamps or Baby
Bonds
$4.12=55.00
They're a cinch. I
EMBARGO
FREIGHT IS
NEW ORDER
Affected Roads Include Pennsylvania Lines East of
Pittsburgh, Baltimore & Ohio, and Philadelphia and
Reading; Serious Coal Shortage in New York Hastens
/
Decision njffiihdflf ri; _•
■ 3 ;* ' #
By Associated Prus
Washington, Jan. 23. An em
bargo on all freight except food,
fuel and war munitions, on the Penn
sylvania lines east of Pittsburgh.
Baltimore and Ohio east of the Ohio
river, and the Philadelphia and
Reading wa3 authorized to-day by
Director General McAdoo.
Tiic action was taken on the rec-!
ommendation of A. H. Smith, assist
ant dorector general in charge of
transportation in the east. No ref
erence was made to the recommen
dation for an embargo submitted last
night) by Fuel Administrator Gar
field. The embargo is temporary
and is expected to continue only a
few days.
Few Items Excepted
"On account of the extremely se
vere weather which has particqlar
ly affected operation of railroads
Allegheny, mountains,"
saia tne railroad administration an
nouncement, "Director General Mc-
Adoo. upon the recommendation of
Regional Director Smith, has author
ized him to place an embargo upon
all freight, except food, fuel und
such wur munitions and war sup
plies as arc specifically approved by
1,000,000 WOR
STRIKE IN AUSTRIA;
RIOTING I
With more than 3,000,0 CX) workers on strike and widespread
reports of disorders in Austria and Hungary, the situation in the
dual monarchy is beclouded, the censorship having stifled all
news. The German censorship also has prohibited German news
papers from telling of the situation in #
Efforts of Austrian statement to quiet J:he hungry people in
their demand for peace apparently failed of their purpose and the
censorship, which permitted the promise of the government's
spokesmen to reach the outside world' again has resumed its
vigor. The trouble is said to be deep-seated and is a mixture of
war weariness, hunger and anti-Germanism.
Seemingly the one strong hope of
Austrian leaders in quieting the tu
mult is in the success of the negotia
tions at Brest-Lltovsk with Russia
and the Ukraine. The Germali atti-
IMPROVISE THEATE
HOTEL TO CAR
SUFFERING CO
Palmyra, Pa., Jan. 23. To alle
viate suffering from the coal short
age which has existed here for two
months, Harry Zuclterman and Julius
Sllmer, proprietors of the Iriquois
Theater, to-day decided to turn the
big building over to a committee so
that it might be to house fam.
ilies who have no coal and no pros
pects of getting any.
A call for volunteers to cut wood
to heat the improvised hotel to-day
was sent out by the committee >n
which are Gabriel H. Moyer, deputy
auditor general; H. R. Seltzer, as
sistant postmaster; Dr. liaker, and
the proprietors of the theater.
DANGER OF FUEL
FAMINE IS SAID
TO BE PASSED
| llickok liclieves Coal Situa
tion Is Rapidly Clear
ing in City
Ross A. llickok, .fuel administrator
/or Dauphin county, to-day said that
in a few days the coal situation will
have Improved considerably. Danger
of famine now has been averted, he
declared.
Nineteen eafs of anthracite arrived
In the city yesterday, and twenty |
[Continued on Page 9.]
the War Department, upo® .the
Pennsylvania lines east of Pitts
burgh, Baltimore and Ohio cdst of
th- Ohio river, and the Philadel
phia and Reading, for the purpose of
enabling those lines, which are the
heaviest bituminous coal carriers to
[Continued on Page 12.]
City's Business to Feel
Effect of Freight Embargo
Until further notice no freight will
be shipped out of Harrisburg or re
ceived in this city except food, fuel
and materials for munition plants.
Munitions will be shipped out of the
city as usual. This means that the
embargo lid Is on tight in this city.
This is the result of the orders, is
sued to-day by Director General Mc-
Adco, placing an embargo on all
freight east of Pitsburgh and Erie,
except shipments mentioned above.
The Pennsylvania Railroad and the
Philadelphia, and Reading Railway
lines are af(ectd.
The order ties up considerable
freight clu# Harrlsburg merchants and
e number of local industries. The
latter have been running short of
material for some time, and indica
tions are there will be another shut
down of plants not working on war
orders.
tude on occupied territories has balk
ed the conclusion of peace with Rus
sia, and the Central Powers have
[Continued on Page; (]
It is proposed to sent these vol
unteers out to thci farm of F. R.
Moyer, who has agreed to place his
wood at the disposal of the commit
tee. Owners of automobiles are being
sought to aid In the movement.
Mr. Zuqkerman declared to-day that
thirty families can be accommodated
in the theater. Screens will be ar
ranged td'-glve the families privacy.
Arrangements for having a kitchen
installed nearby so that breakfast
can be had without going to cold
homes now are being gotten under
way. 'Suffering in the town because
of the lack of coal is said to be in
creasing daily.
ROOSEVELT IN •
THICK OF TURMOIL
ON EFFICIENCY
J \
■ yfc •
Takes Leadership in Fight
For Special War
Cabinet
Washington, Tan. 2^. —Theo-
dore Roosevelt has become the
center of the storm now raging
in Wash n*on.
The ieplorahle situation
created by the President's at
tack upo.i S.-.iator Chamberlain
and his demand that the Cham
berlain oilij providing for a
[Continued on Page .]
Single Coov, 2 Cents NIGHT EXTRA
1 LATE NEWS
5 g.
* S
X ' MUST BE CAREFUL WITH GAS 'X ;'
T Harisburg—Superintendent Williams of the liar- X '
y risburg Gas Company to-clay warned ownn of gas water ,'*!•
heaters not to tvtn on the gas if the water is not running
T In the f&uccts. An explosion might result, Mr. Williams .Tj
X added. X
4* '<£
BRITISH BOMB GOEBEN JJ
London—Several attacks by day and ni ,ht have been
X made by British naval air planes on the Turkish cruiser X
X Goeben, stranded in the Dardanelles-, and two hits with •*l'
T Hf 4
4 heavy bomb: vnr ecured; it was officially announced 4*
X to-day. ,Hh
T W !
IT HOWARD. PA. MAN WOUNDED T
Ottawa, Ont-fln last night's casualty list C. Stanley. IS
of Howard, Pa., is mentioned as wounded. '
X SICK RATE SHOWS INCREASE
j Washington—The sick rate in National Army and JL
X National Guard camps shows a slight increase for the *§"
week ending January 18. c Deaths in the National Army $
jh for the week numbered 149, as against 147 the prevail- JC
ju ' n & wc ek and in the National Guard 66 deaths against SB. *!•
I 4 Of these deaths one hundred in the National Army and X
£ forty-six in the National Guard were due to pneumonia. •*f'
; J LOW PRESSURE CUTS OFF HOMES f
jjj# Harrisburg The speciat committee named by Mayor
. Keister this afternoon will meet again to-night at 8
T 0 clock to decide on further action in connection with the L
Xv. ater famine. The. water department issued notice this T
T afternoon that no water had been'shut off but the low ,■
4 lire . *T
A. in' the resei—6ir. Hjurly rea'ding-. of the imount of !#
' V" —
X MARKET CLOSES HEAVY W%
jP New Y< rk-4Reaction.s of 1 to 4 points in the last hour i f
' jped out n
X *3
$ erty 3 1-2's sold at 96.28 to 98.18, first 4's at 97.16 to X
X 96.90 and second 4's at 96.32 to 96.24. .Specialties agaia X
| figured prominently in to-day's irregular market, repre- $
X sentative stocks reacting on recurrent pressure. Sales X ( v
T approximated 400,000 shares. + I
S ARRIVIA\FTER 4 MONTH JOURNEY $
X Harrisburg—After a four months' journey, from a X
31 T
j* little village a short distance from Riga, Mrs. Moses *ic*
§ Lapkins and two daughters, aged 16 and 19, arrived in X **
X this city to-day, and arc enjoying a reunion with the hus- T '■<%
4* band and father, who has resided at 1209 Green sir. ; r 4
X the last four years. *
P. R. R. DECLARES . DIVIDEND *5
jt Philadelphia—The directors c: the Pennsylvania £,
jjr Railroad to-day .declared the uvular quart* rly db.-idend ,T 1
i C f
of 1 1-2 per cent. 011 the stock of the comjx ly |
Ix * !t M
J P. R. R. TRAINS IN COLLISION t
|* Philadelphia —The Pennsylvania Railroad train which 'Hf*
left this city for New York at 2 p. m. to-day is reported X
4 to have collided with another train near the Gerard
J* avenue bridge over the Schuylkill river. One rej ort said
a Pullman had overturned and several pet ons were in
-4* jured. The engineer of one train is said to have been X
X badly scalded by escaping steam. One person was killed X - \
4* and several were injured. A coach attached to the Man- 4*
X hattan. Limited, westbound, jumped the track and 'the X
T express train for New York ran into them. The derailed ijr
i coach was a mail car. Both trains were bound for New X '(
X- York and w "e running on adjoining trad Passengers ;X
V bound for New York have been transferred to the Read- -
X ing railway.
T SUFFRAGE AGITATES GERMANY
14* Amsterdam—The question of woman suffrage is be- X|
X to agitate Germany, despite the government's X
14* forcible insistence that this and kindred questions must 3
X not be.made the subject of agitation untij after the war. X
1 .* lixtilAiib LICENSES J
X . nd Minnie M. Ilpe, Vlarrlabarfft Jokn Cop- 4*
<•}* Inp nnd IJlmibfth W. Bernard, Mpwrvillei tfnrry C. miner. Port
? "■ %■