Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-01-20
WOULD HAVE STATE MINE COAL
Members Of the Legislature Advocate
the Entrance of the State Into the
Coal Mininq Business.

In a long article on the Ignite fuel
question in the Grand Forks Herald
a member of the legislature is quoted
as favoring a plan whereby the state
shall mine coal for general con-
sumption. While there is little like
lihood of any such plan being adopted
the views of the legislator are inter-
esting as showing the diverse opinions
on the subject of Ignite mining. The
legislator. whose name is not stated,
says:
I'm my opinion there is but n way
out of the dilemma. The state must
go into the coal business itself. The
state possesses some very valuable lig-
mite lands, and some others the value
of which has not yet been determined.
The constitution fortunately prohibits
the sale of these lands, but provides
that they may be leased for the benefit
of the state. | believe that it would be
a mistake to rent them. ! think that
this legislature should make provision
for a thorough investigation of the
coal on the lands belonging to the
state and also provide for the opening
of at least n state mine during the
coming summer. There Is a precedent
for this in the installation of the
Irvine plant at the penitentiary. The
~convicts could have been employed all
the time without going to the expense
of putting in quantities of expensive
machinery there as has been done. but
it was considered that the expenditure
was warranted as a means OF pro-
tecting the farmers of the state
against the eXtortions of the eastern
Irvine manufacturers. The state au-
thorities tell us that the experiment
has been a successful one | can see
no reason why it should not be equally
as wise for the state to go into the
business of mining it's own coal to pro-
tect its citizens from the ~extortions of
a coal monopoly. Neither can | see
anything in the way of the success
of such a plan.
81 would not be in favor of selling
the coal mined by the state at cost. 1t
would be improper for the state to n
ter into competition which would be
ruinous to any of it's citizens. or to
non-residents who have invested their
money in legitimate enterprises here.
l would have the state sell the coal at
such price as will yield a reasonable
profit. and would welcome all sorts of
competition on that basis. | believe
that in this I'M we can control
the situation in spite of all the foreign
combinations that can be formed. We
need not fear the competition Of out
siders, as, with the state price fixed so
as to yield only a fair margin of profit,
should competitors lower the rate we
ear afford to see them get all the bust.
ness and permit our own mines to lie
idle. The people of the state will
gain in lower price what they lose in
interest on their plant. With a few
mines at advantageous points the
state will be in possession of an aul-
tomato governing contrivance which
will regulate the price of coal in the
state. and which will forever protect
our people from extortion.
81 have studied this subject with
some care, and am free to confess that
there are difficulties connected with it,
One of these is the question of funds.
But we seem to be able to find money
for other things that we think we
need. and | fancy we will for this,
should we undertake it. Then there is
the question of the ACCESSIBILITY Of go
ing into the briouette business. OF
course the method which is EMPLOYED
by Gen. Washburn, if he concludes To
undertake it. is a secret process. and
will doubtless be patented. But no
one can patent the principle of
briquetting, though special methods
may be protected in this way. The
practice is an old one, and the reports
OF our consuls show that is has been
used with good success for many years
in Europe. If they can do it over
there and Gen. Washburn can find
improved methods to apply here, the
state a do so as well, and there is
no reason why. if we wish. we can
not briquette our fuel as well as mine
1t. However. ] do not think that it
viii be necessary. at least for some
time. I believe that our purpose will
be well served if we place on the
market of the state Ignite in it's crude
state at a fair price. The effect will
be to ~equaliZe the price of the finished
product, as If the manufacturers OF
briquettes charge too much for their
goods the people will buy the cheaper
fuel from the state mines. This. OF
course, is a question of detail. and one
which cannot be solved Off hand. |
am in conference with some of the
other members on this matter. and
anticipate that before the close OF
the session a bill covering the fea.
lures which l have mentioned will be
presented to the assembly. Coupled
with it. or perhaps incorporated in it
there should be provisions for the
regulation of railroad rates. governing
the manner of supplying cars for The
transportation of fuel. and seyera'
other features. But of n thing I an
convinced. and that is that if thu
state Is to protect itself from the ex
tortion OF a mining syndicate II mus
go into the mining bnc;pocc ;oz,ev