The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-01


For the past few weeks the various
journals throughout the State and
elsewhere have been tceming with
articles on the alleged extraordinary
preparations being made by the Chi
cayo, Milwaukee 4 st. Paul road,
for supplying the people residing
along their line with coal at cheap
rates. The matter, if true, was one
of sufficient public importance to
merit commentator, and we have
been ut especial pains to thoroughly
sift the affair. We find that the
matter has been grossly exaggerated.
Despite the bitter experiences of last
Winter, there haze been no prepara-
|tions made by this line, beyond erect
ing sheds and advertising coal they
have not got. The fact is they cam
not get the coal. Their muchly adj
vertised mines in Iowa are flooded
and caunot be pumped out for six
weeks to come. They have as yet
no coal ut any. of their stations on
the Southern Minnesota division. At
only eleven stations on the Hastings
& Dakota division have they from
two three carloads of inferior Iowa
coal. This coal at Aberdeen is held
at $3.50 per ton, the best Whining
ton coal, acknowledged superior by
81 per ton, being sold at WATERFOWL
on the Chicago & Northwestern road
at 81 per ton. Facts cannot lie, and
we do not make these statements
without a reliable basis for them.
We comment on this fact, because it
is one of Importance to residents of
this State and Dakota. Should the
people along their lines relv implicit
ly on their manifold. assurances of
protection on their part from a re-
currcnce Of the fuel famine of last
,, Winter, they risk being left in sor-
ry plight. 1t should looked into and
the people should take such measures
for self-protection rs will preclude
the possibility of SO serious need
as ut present threatens them. Coal
is scarccr than is presumed. The
fact that the Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul coal mines are not in Il work.
ing condition should be known, lest
consumers should build false expcc.
tations on the untruthful assurances
that are being published. AS yc,
they have no coal, and inquiry dc.
velops the situation, showing tina,
they can get none until their mines
are put in shape. Contra to this the
efforts of the Chicago & Northwest
ern people in not relying solely on
their Iowa mines, which have no,
been out of working condition day
are most worthy of commentator
They do not depend exclusively on
their own capabilities for caring fol
the people residing contiguous tt
their lines, but they are storing thcil
sheds with an ample supply OF Will
mington coal, which is sold at rea
sonable prices. Let those whom this
matter interests ''takc time by the
forelock' and investigate the true
status of the ease as we have done
We are satisfied from actual invcsti
CATION tina: the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul are trying to make capt
tai for themsclyos-very much to the
letriment of other lines, by advertis
ing cheap coal along their line that
they cannot furnish. This trick was
quite successfully played last year
while investigation developed the
fact that not pound of coal was to
be had along the line of their Hast
ings Il Dakota division for love OF
money, and that the farmers were
coming from the milwaukee, Il st
Paul to the Chicago Il Northwestern
railway for their supply of fuel.