Citrus Freeze Affects Local Wood Supply
February 18, 1937
A serious fuel shortage faces Susanville as a result of continued cold weather and severe storms. Local concerns dealing in fuel announce their supplies depleted and their efforts to obtain wood and coal unsuccessful.
The recent sub-zero weather which ruined a large portion of the citrus crop has decreased the demand for box shook. Shook manufacture which supplies a large share of the wooden blocks sold for fuel has fallen off sharply.
One lumber company has orders on hand for over 100 loads of blocks. Monday, while attempting to deliver orders to outlying districts, their trucks became stuck in the snow near Lake Leavitt and the rock crusher on the Reno road.
With the blocks as a byproduct of the box factories the companies do not feel justified in running the factories at present to supply blocks.
A retail fuel dealer advised that all wood has been exhausted. A carload of coal has been ordered from Salt Lake City but no promise was given of its being delivered soon due to difficulty in obtaining the coal and in shipment.
Another lumber company has been able to meet small orders to date and with intermittent running of their box factory will be able to take care of orders to some extent.
