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'he Omaha Illustrated Bee.
NUMBER 328.
Entered Second Class at Omaha Postoffice Published Weekly by The 'Bee Publishing Co. Subscription, $2.50 Per Year.
DECEMBER 10, 1903.
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How Omaha Keeps Its People Warm and Comfortable in Winter
Borne Interesting Facts on the Local Coal Supply and the Way in Which it Goes Up in Smoke On Cold Days When the Thermometer Hovers Around the Zero Point for Weeks at a Tim
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have a total of twenty-five men out all the time. These twenty-five
men do nothing but take orders for coal, while another man Is em
ployed by each ot the five big dealers to do nothing but collect;
Besides the employes enumerated, a far greater number of men own
their own teams and haul coal for the dealers at a stipulated price
per ton. Some of the dealers say it is better to employ men with
teams to do the hauling, but those who own their own teams declare
the only system Is for the firm to own Its teams. ;
Life of the Coal Hauler
Men who are employed with their teams report at a coal office
each morning for orders and are assigned the day's work. It some
times happens, of course, there is nothing for the teamster to do, but
the good driver who never makes a mistake In an address usually
finds plenty to do during the winter months. His pay, too, is good,
depending entirely upon the amount of coal he hauls. A number of
the drivers make as much as $35 and $40 a week, out of which, of
course, they have to pay for the feed for their teams, but the average
driver, of a number Interviewed, mnkes from $18 to $25. All this, of
course, adds to the price of the coal to the consumer.
But before the teamsters get a hold on the coal supply of
Omaha the railroads get a chance at It. All of the best coal used In
Omaha comes from the mines of Pennsylvania, so the freight charges
amount to considerable. A little calculation shows that to bring in
a day's supply of coal would take a' train which would cover In the
neighborhood, uf 2,000 feet. To bring In a year's supply ,of coal the
train, were it in one section, would reach a distance of about 146
miles, or three times the distance from Omaha to Lincoln. So a cent
reduction in freight rates on coal into Omaha means considerable
In a year's time, though it sounds small.
Large Stocks Carried On Hand
A majority of the dealers keep constantly on band from 1,000 to
1,500 tons of coal, while the smaller dealers carry about 300 tons
and less. All of the dealers, of course, sell coal that Is "absolutely
free from dirt and dust," and In one Instance the conl Is treated to
remove all dirt and dust. This is done by one of Omaha's largest
firms. The coal Is loaded into a bin whose floor is many feet above
the ground. When It Is shoveled out , of this pit it goes over a
screen, which Is above another pit, and thus most ot the foreign
matter and the smaller particles are removed.
Hard work is attached' to every phase of the coal business, of
which the conl heaver and driver. In so fur as manual labor is con
cerned, of course, get the worst end, but these drivers are satisfied.
A number were Interviewed and every one of them expressed sym
pathy for the man behind the desk. "It Is outdoor work in mine,"
most of them said, and the fact that the man with the team clears,
more money each month out of his salary than does the average man
behind the desk, the outdoor work has Its' attractions as well as its
drawbacks. ,
As a result of the efforts made by business men to save coal, the
heating of an office building In Omaha has been reduced to a science
and in some of the large office buildings engineers of recognized ability
who command large salaries are employed. In many places In Omaha
people walking along the streets pass over, without their knowledge,
Immense boilers where steam is generated for heatiug and lighting pur-
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the city
winter.
FAMILIAR STREET SCENE IN THE WINTER.
MAHA people pay for coal during the seven months of the
year the sum of $1,575,000. A few figures taken as a com
parison show how large an amount of money this really Is.
It would take more than five times the entire population of
working at $2 a day to pay the coal bill merely for one '
In other words, it would take 787,600 men working at $2
a day for one day to make that much money. Working at the rate
of $2 n day It would take one man 2,187.5 years to complete It
These figures, of course, are based on the most reliable infor
mation that could be secured. While it may seem strange to the
people of this city, out of a large number of coal dealers asked la
regard to the matter, none of them could tell, or would tell, the
exact amount of coal he sold during a winter, but each was willing
to tell what he thought his competitor sold. So t Is a fact that not
a coal dealer In Omaha knows the amount ot coal sold here in a
year. One dealer, after making estimates of what his competitors;
sold, said: "I do not know what my firm sells during a year. We
have' never kept an accurate account of the matter, and the nearest
we could come to the exact amount would be an estimate." A com
petltor told how much this dealer sold, so the figures above are
practically correct. '
F.ifty Cars a Day for Omaha
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In Omaha an average of fifty coal dealers do business during
the winter months, some of whom sell coal at wholesale and have
men out over the state as agenis, others cater to a i strictly retail
trade and deliver eoal in wagons throughout the city, while another
class handles only a small amount of coal and it is delivered from
their places of business, in most Instances, In baskets. At least one
car of coal la sold in Omaha each day during ithe winter months by
each dealer. This means that fifty cart ot coal are burned daily in
this city between the months ot October and April. A car of coal is
equal to thirty tons, making 1,500 tons of coal used dally, or
3,000,00.0 pounds shoveled into furnaces and stoves by workmen and
housewives and others every twenty-four hours during the winter.
As there is no coal mined la Nebraska it la necessary for Omaha
as well as the remainder of the state to ship in all that is burned.
To supply even the people ot the metropolis many states are called
upon. In fact, Omaha gets its coal supply from more states than
any city ot its size in the United States. It is shipped in here from
Pennsylvania, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming, Ohio, Colorado and
Illinois. This mean that the people of Omaha sent out to other
states each winter through the coal dealers the sum of $7,500 a day,
or $1,575,000 a Winter, less, ot course, the profit of the coal dealer,
which has never been figured out so far as the Oldest Inhabitant
remembers.
A Nebraska coal mine which furnished Omaha's supply - would
have to be capable of producing several different kinds of the fuel.
Omaha uses hard coal in its residences, and steam coal and soft ceal
under Its boilers. The hard coal Is retailed on an average at $10.60
a ton, soft coal from $4.50 to $7.50 a ton and the steam coal for $3
a ton. In South Omaha, which is not included in this calculation,
the packing houses use from three to five cars ot coal a day, as does
the amelter works in Omaha.
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When the Dealer Gets Even
Complaint has frequently been heard because the coal dealers
usually tack on 10 cents a ton for coal which is not ordered during
the summer months and consequently not delivered during the
warm weather. Thh was explained in this manner by a- large coal
dealer who lays in lAs supply during the hot summer months.
"It is necessary for ua to look ahead and be prepared to supply
our customers when cold weather sets in. It we did not we would
find ourselves unable to secure cars in which to ship the coal into
Omaha. About the time we would be wanting cars for coal, the
farmers and grain men would be wanting them to move the grain
crop, so we have to get a supply ot coal in advance and have it on
hand. Now, as we have to Invest our money in this coal, and as we
have to store It away until It Is sold and delivered, ' we put on a
charge of 10 cents a ton to pay the interest on the money and the
storage."
This 10 cents a ton amounts to $3 a car. Before that 10 cents
conies the freight bills, and as every little 'additional expense is
charged up to the consumer', by the time he gets his coal supply for
the winter he has a large number of bills to pay besides the mere
cost of the coal at the rnfno. . Another charge laid at the door of the
coal dealer is that he "catches 'em a goin' and a comln' " because
he sells coal In the winter and sells ice in the summer. But this is
true ot only five of the large firms in Omaha.
Army Given Employment
But whatever the Jokes poked at the coal dealer and the ice
dealer, his kind gives employment to an army of men in this city.
It is estimated that it requires fully 400 teams (800 horses), and
400 wagons to keep the' people supplied with coal, after it has been
dumped into the coal yards. These are employed constantly during
the winter months and a portion ot the summer. It requires one
man to do the driving and the unloading; five of the large firms em
ploy in their offices constantly seven men each; ether dealers have
on an average of two men Xo the office. Some of the dealers have
three men on the road all the time, while the five largest dealers
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THE MAN BEHIND THE HEATINQ PLANT.
CLEANING! COAL IN OLD-FASHIONED tfAY
Folk on the Rights of the Insured
Missouri's Reform Governor Interprets the Startling Disclosures of the Insurance Investigations
IN considering the proposed action of the state of Missouri against
the New York Life Insurance company and other insurance or
ganizations which may be convicted of carrying on fraudulent
practices, it is a mistake to suppose that the Individual state has
not authority to supervise the business of insurance com
panies. Insurance is not interstate commerce; it may be
regulated by each state. The state has a right to per
mit foreign insurance companies that is, insurance compan
ies incorporated, under the laws ot another state to do business within
its own boundaries, and it has an equal right to exclude such companies.
In pursuance of this power the state can authorize its own official
to examine an Insurance company In another state, and if this official
finds that the company is in such condition as to make it hazardous to
the citizens of the state for it to do business within the state, then its
license cun be taken away.
Scope of State Supervision : .
Miasonrt has provided by law for an insurance commissioner, who
licensee all insurance companies that do business in the state. When
ever be thinks the interests of the policyholders are jeopardized by any
company continuing to do business in the state, the insurance commis
sioner ran revoke the license of such company. The state in this man
ner exercises supervision over all of the Insurance companies doing
business within its limits, although these companies may be located,
and most of them are located. In other states.
The funds of a mutual company constitute a fiduciary trust, held
and administered for the sole use of those named as beneficiaries, many
of whom are or will be widows and orphans; and muny thousands of
people have taken insurance In such companies because of this very
fact and the assurance that every dollar of assets belongs to the policy
holders. That any portion of the policyholder's premiums, or profits
on premiums, should be diverted to political purposes or other uses
not contemplated when the premiums were paid In, and not consistent
with the avowed purposes of a life insurance organization, must be
considered by all right-thinking people as a gross violation of a sacred
trust. ,
v It lias been learned that life insurance companies of New York,
controlling many hundreds of millions of dollars, have beeu attempting
to dictate t lections by contributing immense sums of money to jtolitlcal
campaign committees, which the officials who contributed it took from
the trust funds placed In their care, with no more autliorlty than the
treasurer of a state would have to use the public funds for that pur
pose. Worse than this Is the startling revelation that three of tho
largest insurance companies have for years mulutalned a trust to con
trol legislation of the stutef and to eject and defeat men for office ac
cording to the wishes of these companies.
Companies Practically Control Money Supply
In the testimony before the New York Investigating committee it
wss established that a bureau was organised In 18!5 to control legisla
tion. One man was put in charge of the legislation of the United States
and Canada. He would select the best men. to handle legislation la
each state. No vouchers were required of him except his requisition,
and he was expected to deal with men who rould produce results. It
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was his province to bring pressure to bear and prevent re-election of
men who were not to the liking of the Insurance magnates. There was
paid him by one company alone In the last four and one-half years
$43,000 as salary and $1)81,000 for various other purposes, of which the
sum of $470,000 was for work as legislative agent
Immensity of Insurance Boodle Fund
It will occasion no surprise to learn that one of the companies sent
$2,500 for this purpose to Missouri four years ago. The legislative
agent had absolute authority to draw on any branch office for any
amount of money that be wanted, and was not required to give any
information as to what the money would be used for. The checks
showing how some of this money was spent were very prudently de
stroyed. To anyone familiar with legislation and the ways of .those
who peek to influence legislation by corrupt means it is manifest that
the fund so raised was for the purpose of influencing legislators directly
or indirectly.
With these companies in practical control of the money supply of
the United States, having more power over the money market than the
government itself, they could in the course of time have absolutely
owned state legislatures, and their avarice might have gone further in
securing the election or defeat of state and national officers. In the
course of time, instead of having a government by the people and for
the people, it would have been a government by the few, with wealth
enough to purchaso official favors. No man who loves his country can
but be alarmed, when he contemplates the possibilities if there had been
no lntei ruptlon in the operation and methods of some of these com
panies. I do not believe any company whose officials divert funds without
objection on the part of the directors, or that Is willing to corrupt our
legislators, should be allowed to do business in this state. They should
do honest business or no business. If they cannot exist without sur
reptitious violations of law or brifiory it is "better for the people that
they Im excluded from the state entirely. The laws cannot be too strict
ami enforced too aggressively In regulating the conduct of those In
trusted with such power as those have who handle the Insurance mil
lions, and they should be held to the same degree of accountability be
fore the bar of Justice as public officials are.
Breach of Trust is the Offense
It Js not wealth about which the people complain; wealth In Itself
Is a blessing- but the abuse of wealth Is a curse. It is not insurance
companies the people object to, but the breaches of trust on the part
of some of those running the Insurance companies. The people under
stand these things, and know while some insurance people are crooked.
It dos not follow that all Insurance pieu or all bunkers are without
honor. Whiie demanding the exjoure and punishment of Insurance
crooks and crooks of every other kind, the people of Ohio the other day
elected a president of a life Insurance company as governor of their
state. He Is an honest man, and eminently .qualified and worthy of the
place. Tills shows that the people are not so blinded by the exposures
as to strike madly at any connected with the same line of business.
They can discriminate between the good, and the bad. New York Ii
dependent
WHERE THE WAGONS ARE LOADED.
poses. Excavation's are made under the sidewalk to tho curb line,
leaving tho walks supported by arches, which are placed upon large
iron pillars. The excavation Is walled with brick or stone and in some
instances the excavations extend the entire length of the building.
Every piece of machinery is bought and installed with a view of
saving coal and with a view to using every particle of steam. Pumps
are used to send the hot water through the pipes and back again into
the boilers and thus every drop of water is made to do all that it can
be gotten from it borne of the buildings use direct and others indirect
systems, that Is, the water Is sent through the buildings in the pipes
to radiators In the former case and in the latter case the air Is heated
by being brought into the building and heated by means of colls of pipe
In a separate room. Fans are then used by which the air is forced
into the rooms which it is desired to beat The High school has both
lystenM installed. Most of the office buildings which are not large have
the direct system and carry only a low pressure of steam, and the en
gines an', boilers can be managed by one man, who is required to re
main at his post of duty every evening. In these smaller buildings
the boilers are not more than fifteen horse power. In instances the
pressure of the water furnished by the water company is sufficient,
but In others the engineers keep a tank of water on the top of the build
ing to make the pressure greater. Engineers who are employed in
these buildings are required to pass a rigid examination and are
granted a license before they can take the position of engineers. Their
pay ranges from $0 a month for a second grade engineer to a much
hlghet amount dependent upon the man and his employer.
Uncle Sam's Up-to-Date Plant
In the federal building perhaps there is the most economical, as
well as the most up-to-date, heating and ventilating plant in this city.
This plant occupies the entire basement of that large structure. In
this building only is the thermostat used. This apparutus automat
ically regulates the heat in every room In the building. It is a small
attachment consisting of two disks, flattened almost together, but be
tween which there Is a liquid which freezes at a temperature of 55 de
grees. The action of the air against this disk contracts or expands it
as the case may be, and this expansion or contraction regulates the air
which goes into the radiator. Should a federal officer desire his room
kept at a temperature of 70 degrees he so sets the apparatus by a dful
on the front of It When the temperature drops to CD degrees the sides
of the thermostat open and allow the hot air to go into the radiator.
Should the temperature reach 71 degrees the thermostat closes and tho
hot air Is shut off, and thus is it possible to regulate the beat almost
to a degree. So delicate Is this apparatus that Chief Engineer Baxter
moved it by merely breathing against it
The five boilers in the federal building are supposed to beat 6,000
feet radiation each, but during last winter enly three boilers were used,
supplying a radiation of 30,000 feet Mr. Baxter believes this is due to
the fact that the heat is regulated In each room, and as seme people
require much less beat than others, though the, heat la turned off
only a short time on each occasion, it means much In the year's coal
bill.
Even the Air is Filtered .
The air furnished the occupants of the federal building U even
purer than that which the people breathe upon the streets. It Is first
inducted into the building through 'screens of cheesecloths and from
these screens there is removed each twenty-four hours fifteen to thirty
two pounds of soot coal dust dirt and other particles which are
breathed every day by the out-of-door people. The air is then forced
into a room in which are located hot water colls and in its meanderlngs
through these coils it becomes hot Then it is forced into the fans and
sent through ducts into a small room, where it is mixed and cooled to
be sent on through ducts through the length of the basement lnte other
mixing vats and then to the offices. The velocity of the air as it la sent
from the' fans through the cooling room is like a small cyclone, and
travels at the rate of 32,000 cubic feet a minute.
j New Economies Always Welcomed
In the federal building, as in all other buildings where coal is used,
the chief engineer Is constantly on the lookout for inventions which
will reduce the coal bills. In one ot the large office buildings eleven
tons of coal la used every day and the building does not remain open
at ulght, either. This amount of coal, however, supplies also power
for the electric light plant. This heating plant covers the entire base
ment of a building a quarter of a block in area and it contains enough
machinery to furnish heat and light for a small town. One engine Is
kept merely to raise heavy safes and office fixtures which may be
needed In the building. Ileut and light Is furnished to every room and
to supply the demand four large boilers of 100 horse power each are
used. Two large engines are also used, supplying power to run the
elevators. It requires a chief engineer and three assistants to run this
plant, more than is necessary to manage an electric light plant In a
country town. Every particle of steam is used in this building, not a
pound escaping until after It has performed its function.
Whllit in a majority of instances the lighting plant Is In the base
ment of a building, it is not unusual for the heating plant to be sepa
rate and apart from the main building and the teat piped Into the
fculldlng.