Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-12-25

am, Yours respectfully,
j. F. WALLACE, SR.
underhiu Replies to Walsh.
Fargo Forum: Ex-C commissioner I'm
derhlll replies to Chairman Walsh and
sheds new light on the black Jumps of
Ignite.
"The interview published in yester-
days Forum with Railroad Commissioner
Walsh on coal rates is somewhat mis-
leading. Either Mr.. Walsh is not cor
rectly reported or he is mistaken IN re-
gard to facts. He says present rates are
exactly the same as old rates. whereas
the old rate was rs cents differential (see
page 46 of the railroad commissioners
report) and the present increased rate is
81 cents, He says the Dickinson mines
are $50 miles west Of SIM whereas it is
only seventy-fve miles, (see page IS of
the railroad commissioners report.)
"Mr. Walsh, as reported, makes perso-
nal mention of me as using my official
position to advance private interests,
stating that I am 'father-in-law of Mr.,
McGillvray, the owner of the Dickinson
Mines which cannot we'll be as I never
have been blessed with a child, and fur
ther state that l never even had a perso-
nal acquaintance with the parties pre-
vious to coming to Dakota, and on this
personal matter I emphatically state I
have no personal or commercial interest
IN any mine or person connected there
with, and never have had.
The further statement of Mr.. Walsh
infers that I obtained a d%ifferential in
favor or Dickinson against Sims, which
is not a fact, unless conditions have
changed since making the rate of 1890,
when by formal investigation it was
shown by the parties interested that the
actual cost of the output was only about
Is cents in favor of Dickinson, which
differential was made a voluntary rate
by the Northere Pacific railroad in the
presence of and with the mutual consent
of the principally interested parties from
both mines. All of which was done to
prevent any discrimination, and to en-
courage the development of the entire
coal field without regard to any special
locality. This view was not only taken
by myself, but was cheerfully responded
to by the officialsof the Northern Pacific
Railroad company, which is fully shown
by the letter of the general traffic mana
ger, and printed in the annual report of
the railroad commissioners, to-wit:
NORTHERN PACIFIC R. r. Co,
OFFICE OF GEN'L TRAFFIC MAN'GR,S
ST. PAUL, Dec. IL. 1891.
T.. s. Underhill, Bismarck, N. D.
Dear Sir: Enclosed | hand you a CODY
of the new special Ignite tariff, taking ef-
feet Dec. 7th, which this company puts
into effect from Sims and Dickinson.
This is a voluntary reduction-and is fig
ured at practically the cost of moving the
business under the most favorable circum-
stances.
1 have prepared this tariff more as an
experiment than otherwis to see if it
| would not result in a larger increased out
put from the Ignite mines OF Dakota.
Yours truly,
j. NJ. HANNAFoRD,
General Traffic Manager.
Also, that the citizens of Morton coun-
ty were broad enough in their views to
not only encourage but to indorse this
| equitable rate, and I believe are still of
the same liberal opinion. 1t is the whole
field we hoped to develop, that the state
might have the benefit of a fair compe-
tition. T. s. UNDERHILL.
WHAT THE N. P. OFFICIALS SAY.
Pioneer Prees: Regarding the trouble
over rates in North Dakota, as stated
from Dickinson, N. D., a Northern Pa
| cific official had the following to say yes
terday:
We made the rates on coal from both
| Sims and Dickinson as low as We could
possibly make it. There was adherence
between the two places of about Is cents.
per ton, Dickinson being about fifty
miles further west. The North Dakota
railroad commissioners came to us and
said that there should be a greater diff
ference between the two places, and at
their request we increased the diferen-
| tial to so cents. That practically shut
Dickinson out Of the market, and hence
the trouble. We are willing to restore
the old rates to both places. But the
question of politics is mixed up with the
matter, and we are not going to be used