- Eureka 1910-1919 - (Part 11 of 12) -
“In November of 1919 a great football game was played at the fairgrounds when a team of youngsters between the ages of 12 and 15 from the east side school (Mulberry) defeated a team of boys about the same age known as the Junior Yanks. The score was 19 to 7. It was a rough and tumble game, thoroughly enjoyed by players and spectators. The admission charge was 10 cents, the winners to take two-thirds of the gate receipts, the losers one-third. The boys received enough money to buy each one a treat after the game.
In late fall of 1919, the United Mine Workers went on strike for better wages in the coal mines. As many as 12,000 miners in Kansas went on strike. The following order was issued by Eureka City Commissioners : Owing to shortage of coal and strike conditions it is necessary to conserve fuel that water and fire protection in Eureka be maintained. Therefore, it is hereby ordered that commencing at 12 o’clock on November 7th, 1919: That no water be furnished railroads or stock yards or public improvements, and that use for all other purposes be restricted to absolute necessity.
That all electric lights for advertising, show windows or street lighting be discontinued. That all electric lights and power for business purposes be restricted to the minimum use and discontinued at 9 p.m. each day. Use of electric lights or current in residences to be limited to one light only. Use of electric light in churches, lodges, clubs and public buildings and places of amusement shall be restricted to a minimum and discontinued at 9 p.m.
It is also urgently requested that the conservation of fuel by the people be strictly observed, and its use be limited as far as possible.
Any violation of this order and request will cause the absolute discontinuance of water and electricity.
Due to the continuing coal strike the City of Eureka passed the following Ordinance No. 785 in early December, 1919.
An ordinance declaring an emergency and regulating business and business houses, public places, churches, places of amusement, offices, lodges, club rooms, news stands and other places, fixing time of opening and closing the same, restricting the sale of goods, wares, merchandise and commodities and restricting and conserving the use of all fuel including coal, coke, wood, fuel oil and electrical energy and providing penalty for the violation thereof.
Whereas, that owing to the nation wide shortage of fuel, there exists an emergency requiring the conservation of fuel to the end that all may have fuel sufficient for domestic use and to prevent suffering the Mayor and Commissioners after a careful survey of the available supply of fuel and the prospects for the immediate future upon due consideration deem it absolutely necessary to make regulations in this ordinance contained for the purpose of preservation of the public health of said City to conserve all fuel during the emergency now existing and assuring the people that said regulations now necessary will be withdrawn at the earliest possible time consistent with due regard to the general health and welfare of the City, therefore, Section 1. That from and after twelve-one a.m. December 11, 1919, it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, corporations, or associations to keep open, conduct, operate in the City of Eureka any bank, store, office, place of business, picture show, theatres, bowling alleys, billiard halls, dance halls, lodges, clubs rooms, churches, auditoriums, hotels, cafes, or restaurants, printing offices, barber shops, shoe shops, laundry’s, filling stations, or other places of business or of amusements, whether enumerated or not except as herein after provided.
Section 2. And it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, corporation or association, to waste or use any fuel during this emergency hereinbefore mentioned except as provided in this ordinance.
Section 3. That all banks, stores, offices, places of business may open and conduct business between the hours of 8 a.m. and five p.m., except that on Saturday the hours be extended to 9 p.m.
3B. Hotels may remain open and transact business at all times except they shall not serve meals before 7 a.m., not after seven-thirty p.m., nor shall they sell any merchandise or commodities, cigars or tobacco, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.
3C. Cafes and restaurants may open and conduct business between the hours of 7 a.m. and seven- thirty p.m. except they shall not sell any merchandise or commodities other than regular meals or lunches, cigar, or tobacco between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.
3D. Churches may hold Sunday School and morning services on Sunday and may hold their usual Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services.
3E. Public meetings may be held only by special permission of the Mayor and Commissioners.”
