The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-16
GOAL FAMINE TAREATEN
A Vast Territory Likely to Be on
Short Rations.
Owing to the Financial stringenoy During
the Summer Coal Dealers Havs
Been Unable to Lay In the
Usual Supply.

the Summer Coal Dealers Have
Been Unable to Lay In the
Usual Supply.
DENVER, Colo, Sept. IA coal fam :
inc is predicted for the coming winter
which. will add to the misery of tho
poorer classes in the present period Of
business depression. The country that
will he most Affected by a coal famine
includes a great sweep from Nebraska
on the north to the great interior
plains country of Texas on the south.
The fact is not generally known that
fully one-half of Kansas and Nebraska
are supplied with coal from Colorado.
and the railroads find in this trade
their chief business for several months
during the latter part of the year.
In the past, in prosperous times, the
business has been generally done by
what is known as stocking orders.
Coal dealers in the western part OF
Kansas, Nebraska and Texas have
stocked up during August and Septem-
Der preparatory for the setting in OF
winter. With all these precautionary
methods there have been times in the
past when, owing to snow blocl1ades,
strikes ut the mines or other unforeseen
delays in the filling of orders, temper.
ary fanines have ensued.
This season, owing to the panic, no
stocking orders have been placed with
the coal companies of Colorado and at
the present time the coal supply for the
farming districts east of the noun.
tains is only sufficient to meet present
wants. There have been no advance
shipments, and now, with winter
close at hand, the coal trade is not
iourishing and onlya moderate am cunt
is being marketed. With the first cold
snap thousands of tons will ,be wanted
and the coal companies will be called
upon to meet n sudden demand coming
from hundred stations at once II
will be an utter impossibility to meet
such general and sudden demand, for
the railroads are not prepared to fur.
nish cars or motive power sufficient to
haul the coal.
Most of the coal marketed in western
Nebraska, Kansas apd Texas comes
from the district south of Pueblo. The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail.
road operates a few small mines at
Canon and near Trinidad. The coal
at the former point is limited in
amount and not enough to supply a To-
cal demand in this state. Their Trini-
dad coal is not popular for domestic
purposes Besides, owing to the finan-
cial stringency and labor troubles on
that system, the company is in bad
way. Its rolling stock is not in first
class order, its engines have been need
ing extensive repairs all summer and
the entire road in the west has been
managed upon SO economical policy
that with sudden revival of business
the Atchison will not be physically
able to handle the trade offered to it.
A slight wreck causing the blocking of
traffic for even twenty-four hours at
sucha time would be q serious calam-
ity.
Between Trinidad and Pueblo are the
chief sources of supply for the markets
referred to. One coal mine at Rouse
can alone furnish-l, 600 tons day. It
IS easily worked and of q superior quail
1ty. TheNS are. n large number OF
otl1er,cofa mes opened ready for h,asi-
ness ~! yffrf the orders come in. But
NsAIAA 5UAASN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ming down to Trinidad fron, tjissa,
mines, all are dependent upon the sim
gle track Of the Denverand Rio Grande
railway. The Union Pacific branch TO
Trinidad will be kept busy enough sup
plying the demands coming up from
Texas, and the rolling stock Of that
company will scarcely be adequate for,
the business.
The Denver and Rio Grande track is
in good condition and its motive power
is quite sufficient to meet the ordinary
requirements of busy season, but
there is Il limit to tho carrying capacity
of a railroad, md that limit will,surely
be reached. Never in the past have the
coal companies been given prompt ser.
vice in busy times, and they are each
year, at the height Of the coal season,
from a week to month behind with
their orders.
The simple fact is that the Colorado
railroads will not be able to do one.
half of the business demanded of them,
and suffering must ensue.
To add to the difficulty and aggra-
vate the suffering many poor families
must endure, it is predicted that the
coal companies. to indemnify them.
selves from the loss OF the early fall
trade, will advance the price of coal q
dollar or more ton and exact cash
payments. III short, the people will
simply be at the mercy of the com.
panies.
There is one other feature to this dis.
NAL outlook, which, while only a re-.
mote contingency, it is we'll to con-
slider. That is the matter Of possible.
labor troubles. It is never known;
when a strike is to occur sRmoHa
coal miners. "A strike now would sbs
terrible in its Consequences. The
tying up OF the Denver and Rio Grande
road even for dny would prevent the
shipment of coal on the Missouri Pa
citic, the Rock Island, the Burlington
and the northern lines Of the Union
Pacific.
But in any event. while the usual
preparations in advance have not been
made. the winter has manifested no
indications of delay in its arrival and
o coal famine is almost certainty.