Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-28
COAL RATES.
In Open Letter From Railroad Commits
sioner Underhill

An open Letter From Railroad Commits
sioner Underhill
ANTELOPE, Stark County, Feb %.
According to the Mandan Pioneer, it is a
surprise" that l should be interested in
the Dakota coal question-and the Pioneer
frankly but kindly volunteers its yalu-
able advice to the effect that l SHOULD mind
my own business and not interfere in the
little game of sinch that the Morton u
ty contingent" is trying to play in the
coal deal.
Perhaps there is no one m~an-outside of
those directly interested in the coal OUTPUT
who has given this subject more thorough
and careful attention than myself. When
the question first came up, by mutual con
sent our board delegated me to look after
the coal interest, while the others were en-.
gagged on commercial rates to the east.
After spending several weeks investigat-
ing and constantly laboring for cheaper
rates, SO much so as to receive reproof
from the railroad company for being too
persistent, and always endeavoring to Sc
cure an equitable diff erential between ex-
listing mines and for the benefit of new
ones to be opened along the line in the coal
district, that all could compete in the mar.
ket, thereby securing to the consumer not
only q low rate but the advantage of COM
petition, l say after giving these things the
attention l have, is it to be wondered at,
should it be a "matter of surprise" to any
one that l do take a lively interest in any
The Pioneer in its kindly" interest in
my behalf, oversteps TIE bounds of kind
ness and misrepresents by asserting that I
am working for zone particular locality"
This is manifestly false and misleading and
no one knows better than the editor Of the
Pioneer that my whole endeavor has been
to equalize the rate so that no one locality
would have undue advantage. And I per
sisted from the beginning that Stark
county should not have any advantage
over Morton and did so ever when the edi-
tor of the Pioneer and other prom
inent men of Morton county advocated an
ever rate from west of the Missouri river.
The Stark county men were displeased
because I did not sustain them in a II
rate scheme, and now since having under
gone a change of heart, the Morton county
men appear to think l am interfering
with their scheme for a differential in
favor of Morton county.
mi, N.Y. tWsa gentie me ,b be i fair and nc let US all
pie and for a just and equitable differential
that will enable all. not only Morton but
Stark and Ward counties, to do business on
a profitable basis and give the consumer
the cheapest fuel possible.
While | deny the charge of having inter-
fered with legislation, I am free to say that
| do have a lively interest in the success of
this effort to p%opularize Dakota coal, and
in SO far as my influence will 60, l shall
continue to use it to that end, and not to
promote any individual interest. I know
no such-and will, in all honorable ways,
endeavor to maintain an equitable rate for
all. And further. [ propose to aid in en-
to stay by this coal business, not only in
the interest of Morton county, but for all
the other coal sections, and particularly
shall l endeavor to have the consumer
benefited by the advantages gained, and
not any one coal mine. l am more san
guine than ever that the merit Of our coal
will establish a permanent demand to the
profit OF all. rs UNDERHILL.