Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-13
COAL AT MINE PRICES.

ohu uloSIlDuGe COal 10 needy
FAMILIES i'll their counties. The rail-
road companies give to each county
several car loads of coal and ship all
the fuel that may be needed to supply
every family who is unable to buy
coal at greater advance than mine
prices. We print below the arrange
ment entered into by those counties
that it may be the better understood
HURON, s. d. NOVEMBER, 1, 1889.
GLIB Dz1EwANowsK1, ESQ, chairman
Board Co: Commissioners, Woonsocket.
Dak.-DEAR SIR:-In pursuance OF a
meeting held at this place on the 22nd
day of October, 1889, Of which meeting
notified you IN regard to devising
ways and means to supply the people
OF the several counties where they have
lost their crops from drouth, with
fuel, feed for stock, etc. at which
meeting committee Of three was APP
pointed to visit Chicago, and NIilwau-
zee 1t necessary, to interview the rail
1oads uIon that subject, ! have the
pleasure to report that the North west
ern KY company agree to ship free Of
freight all coal furnishedby the several
counties to she poor-soft coal from
Iowa and hard coal from Milwaukee
or Chicago; and that all coal to citi-
zens :whoNare able to pay mine prices
only and no freight, to be shipped free
OF freight upon the certificate OF the
county commissioners in the distric,
where the coal is to be laid down, and
said certificate to be endorsed by the
local railroad agent where shipped;
parties who can pay half rate. to be
also certified by the commissioner Or
the local railroad agent. Or in other
words the commissioners and the local
railroad agent shall agree what freight
shall be paid, if any. The coal to be
shipped in the usual manner with
freight added but to BIZ unloaded at the
station by instruction Of the railroad
company, based upon the certificate of
the com missioner ind local railroad
agent.
Feed for stock to he shipped free
upon like certificates.
1t will be necessary for you to make
arrangements to have the coal unload
ed promptly so that the cars may not
be unnecessarily delayed.
The G. M, q st. p. company will do
as well as the Northwestern, but
whether it will be in the exact manner
or whether it will be by direct donation
is not yet fully determined; but
presume that shall know before this
letter is mailed. IT not, [ will write
you as soon as [ receive the informa-
tion, and state particulars.
Let me impress upon you that it is
important that the railroad company
should not be imposed upon by being
compelled. under these certificates, to
haul coal for parties who are perfectly
able to buy the coal at retail rates.
This is particularly important because
anticipate there will come a time IN
the spring when some provision must
be made for seed to be put in the
ground for the coming year, and they
should feel in this matter that we have
treated them fairly.
have said above that coal was to be
shipped with freight added" | did
not mean by this that freight must be
paid before the coal is unloaded, but l
do mean that upon the certificate OF
the county commissioners endorsed by
the local agent. the agent will at once
allow the coal to be unloaded without
payment of freight.
Very Respectfully,
j. l.. SPAULDING,
Ch'm'n Board Co. Com'rs Beadle Co.
twill be seen by the above what
those counties have done for their
needy. The same could have been
done by our commissioners, but either
through thoughtlessness or a feeling
that it would be disgrace to take any
steps looking to the relief of any one in
Jerauld county who might need help,
they failed to take any action; and
Governor Mellette came to our county
and had citizens committee appoint
ed TOGO the work that should have
been done by the Board.
They could have made the arrange
ments and then had nobody applied
for aid no harm would have been done.
but applications have been made
and no provisions made to supply
them. a large number of residents
mad. application for coal at the last
session of the board, and were in
formed by the spokesman, John Grant.
that the county had no coal for them;
that they must go TO their township
trustees, etc.
1t was probably true that Jerauld
county had no coal for its needy. But
why? Sanborn and Beadle counties
had provisions to supply their needy,
and with coal at mine prices, and
no reason exists why Jerauld county
could not be equally favored, unless 1t
be that of neglect. ltseems to an Or
binary mind asthough a public official
should manifest common courtesy
towards the public; should show a
little interest in his constituents
welfare, enough to treat them clvilly
and at least inquire into their needs
since that is his duty.
He sat in his door at monday, lone
some, grum and sad, the flies were buz-
ling about him led by q blue winged
| -, Not a, ouctomnr farl,pnpU his