The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-25
THE COAL FAMINE.

1t is known that within 100 miles from
this city there in enough coal to supply the
entire west for century. When what is
known to exist shall have been exhausted
it IS confidently believed that as much
more will be discovered. Numerous beds
are uncovered and opened, and the cars are
running to the very mouths of the shafts
and tunnels. Labor is abundant. An ad
verhsement in any of the newspapers for
miners or laborers would be responded to
by an army of men eager for employment.
The price of coal is high, but people have
the money ready to pay all that is asked.
Notwithstanding all these favorable cir
cumstances fuel famine has prevailed in
this city for weeks. Some coal dealers
long since refused to take orders for de-
livery within any reasonable time, while
others who have the first right to the coal
which comes in are long way in
arrears with their orders. Neighbors are
borrowing from each other, and people
generally are practicing the most rigid
economy in the matter of fuel, those for
tunate enough TO have coal making their
stocks hold out as long as possible, fearing
they will be unable to procure more before
the supply on hand is exhausted. We don't
know that any household is really suffer
ing from cold, but if not it is due to the
kindness of the elements, the weather
being unseasonabl.' warm and pleasant. A
storm or few cold days such as we may
reasonably and almost necessarily expect
at this time of year, would bring great suf-
RI
result in much sickness and probably in
death.
Now, we suggest that it is very grave
responsibility that is resting upon the rail
way and coal companies, ana one witch
demands that they shall exert themselves
TO improve the present condition of things.
1t is a shame that this coal scare
lJy exists, and that it does ex
ist reflects upon those who cid not
take the necessary steps 20 preventit We
are told that there is scarcity of cars, and
this Is doubtless true, bat if there had been
proper foresight there would have been no
such scarcity, or at leastthe scarcity would
not have been material, for the coal supply
would have been laid in in ,eson. The pub
lie necessarily depends upon the railroads
for coal, and the railroads are negligent in
the performance Of duty to the public il
they fail to provide The coal which only
| they can furnish 1t is known that the de-
tGand for coal will increase as the temper
allure falls, aud timely provisica should be
made to supply the increased demand. If
this is not done there is neglect of duty to
the public, and that is just what is the mat
ter today. The railway companies have
been negligent and have failed in their OBJ
legations to the people.
We hope that extraordinary efforts will
be made by the railway people ami that the
! famine will be overcome before greater in
convenience, annoyance, apprehension and
real suffering come upon the community,
and then we hope that the projectors of the
new railroad which is to run into the coal
! fields east of Us will rush anead with the
enterprise and secure trade which the
other roads have never taken course to
hold if there had been other competitors for
the business in the field