The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-12-01
DUB DILEMMA.
SALT LAKE Cry, Nov. 80, 80.

Editors Herald:
Ny mind is exercised in regard to
the matter Of the welfare OF the pee
pie, OF whom l am one. Here they
are 10000 or $4,000 of them, and
fuel in Eufficiency can not be had
under the present arrangements. 1t
Is q poor lookout for the community
now, and q far worse for it for the
future. II there iG 10 be q deficiency
OF fuel, like the present, il this def
oieucy is to o9ntinus, then We may
say at once that this city and the
country adjacent must cease to pro-
sper, to advance, to grow in popula-
ton and wealth. For the question 10
prominent-if this region can not be
supplied with sufficient fuel nov,
Tow can it be reasonably expected
that it will be applied in the future,
if the population shall become double
or treble what it is now. which of
course in this growing country every
body expects 10 be the natural way OF
things IN = few yearSi The answer
Is OF 9 negative character, unless the
bands which now tie ~ natures
supply Of fuel are broken in some
way, and free trade in fuel becomes
much more OF fact with as than il
is at this time. There 10 plenty OF
fuel, good lively burning coal. within
forty or fifty miles OF us, yet the peo-
pie are shiVsring and freezing in their
houses for the lack OF it. Acres of
coal fields can be bought for mode
rate price within a short distance Of
the railroad, yet the people cannot |
get coal 10 burn. The situation is 8 |
serious one, 9 very serious one, and |
ought to attract the sober attention |
and have the early and earnest con-
sidsrstion OF the best practical minds
in the community. 1t is not an
envious situation tolbe in. Indeed it
is critical, as pertaining not only TO
the present comfort of the citizens,
but also to the future progress and
prosperity of this region. We can't
expect population, mining. maDufsc
lures, and commerce to expand and
develop themselves freely if there is
no fuel to be bad by half the present
Of the community.
We may accord some credit ID the
U. P. people at the present juncture
Tor doing better than some other PEG
pie might have done. They have
kept the prices Of coal at the usual
standard, whether there has been
much or little in the market. This
iG we'll. But the present managers
oi the U. P. and its coal business will
not live forever, aud they will not
these matters perhaps all the
time that they do live. There is a
possibility that future msnsgers. and
We know not how near they may be,
will be less considerable than the pre-
sent managers have been in this
matter. There might be not only
little coal in the market, but the
price of that little might be run up
Then what would be
The situation Of the community? It's
members, many OF them, would be
literally frozen out, for they would
genial cline if they could not endure
he freezing, and it is not . very en-
durable experience to most people.
such q situation is frigbttuI to con-
even at safe distance.
For if our climate is semi.tropical in
summer, it is eemi-arclic in winter,
and our winters are often long as well
Is severe. II the mercury frisks
about in the nineties in July and
August, it is equally liable to be
doping round about zero in Deem
Der, January and February, and there
it is in November this winter, As low
Is il it we're the middle of January.
Now whether the people build the
U. E or not, that road presents the
only apparent means OF escape lett
rom this fuel dilemma. That road
GENES from tue coal beds, the nearest
coal beds. 90 far as is known, and is
already half way here. Would to
heaven it were all the way here.
What tons on tons OF coal it could
bring and sell every day
This is the situation, and it suggests
its own remedy. The winter is early
and severe. Much can lot be ex-
pected to be done 10 building railroad
in the csiloos in such an Indictment
season. But this thing ought to be
impressed upon the mind
Of every person in the community
that however We may manage to get
along for iuel during the lengthy
remainder Of this lengthy winter,
another winter ought not to come
before the U. E. is brought through |
the mountains right into the city,
and the coal scarcity is efectually |
broken for az long as there is any |
coal left in the Weber beds. A car
boniferous era is the thing We want.
The man who does not support the |
U. E. 10 the extent oil his ability,
am afraid will hardy be counted on
the list OF friends TO the community |
at large, and those who Willingly |
work to make the road failure are
hesping upon themselves a weighty
load OF responsibility, and pursuing q
course which will inevitably entail
upon them the - we'll, not the bles-
sings OF the community, and especi-
ally not the blessings OF the poor and
OF those who are ready to perish.
Their exeeIetionE are not desirable
legacy, for the poor can curse as
heartily as the rich, and though
curses, like chickens, may sometimes
come home 20 roost. they are apt to
be exceedingly unpleasant elsewhere
than at home. CARBON.