The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-28
COAL PAYS DUTY
TWILL BE FREE
SUSPENSION OF TARIFF Eek.
PRED ON JAN. IA.
Neither Supply Nor Price Affected,
but New England Has Been Edu-
Gated as to the Advantage of Cheap
Coal and VIII Vote for It-'Tis
Needed in the Far West.
From The journal Bureau. Colorado Building
WashinKton

From The Journal Bureau. Colorado Building,
Warrington.
Washington, Jan. 29.-After having
been suspended a year the duty Of 40
cents ton on bituminous coal was
suspension Of this duty was due to
the energy OF Senator Vest of Mis-
souri,. This was one of his last public
acts. The suspension grew out of the
anthracite coal strike, the theory of
those who favored it being that coal
from Canada would be brought to the
United States in large quantities, par
tally offsetting the effectS Of the
strike. It is nothing to the discredit
OF those who voted for the suspension
10 say that their expectations were
not realized.
SO far as the treasury department
can ascertain. the effect of free coal
was not noticeable on the American
market. The restoration of the duty
was also unnot1ced.
But while the temporary suspen-
sion Of the duty did not accomplish
anything In the way of reduced prices,
1t did create strong demand for free
coal and that demand will assume
definite form as soon as the repub-
l1cans get ready for tariff revision.
At that time it is the intention of
the New England senator's, headed
by Senator Aldrich Of Rhode Island,
the boss Of the senate" to insist on
a permanent removal Of the coal duty
This demand will be seconded en-
phaticaily by public sentiment in Ore
gon and Washington, and in a less in
tense form by sentiment all over the
country; for it is believed that If the
duty were removed for good the
United States would quickly feel the
effects.
The border states west of Minne-
sofa would be the chief beneficiaries,
and the development Of the vast ter
ritory beyond the Missouri river, south
The competition Of Canadian coal with
soft coal from West Virginia, Penn
sylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Mis-
souri, would not be serious. There
would be room enough for both, and
the extensive country at the foot
hills of the Rockies would quickly
feel the stimulus. It's development
can never be brought about as long
as fuel must be hauled from points
east of the Missouri and the Missis-
sippi rivers. ..s.,
New England is interested in free
coal because it can, with the tariff
removed, secure coal from Nova
Scotia at a price much less. than is
now paid for coal from Pennsylvania
ana west Virginia, the nearest btu
minous mines in this country The
fact that the haul from Nova Scotia
is by water, while the haul from
Pennsylvania and West Virginia is
by rail, tells the story.
As Necessary As Irrigation.
Oregon and Washington are inter-
ested IN free coal, because it would
give them access to- the rich mines
of British Columbia. which are near
their doors, the haul there also being
by water. m During the year of the
suspension of the duty there were
strikes in the British Columbia mines,
and for that reason the far north
west did not secure the benefit which
suspension was expected to- bring.
Idaho. Montana, Wyoming and the
Dakotas are also interested in free
coal. for. with the duty permanently
removed. arrangements could u be
made for transportation from Can
ada to all that extensive country be-
tween Minnesota and the Pacific
coast. Cheap fuel is as much needed
for the development Of that country
as irrigation.
During the year Of free coal prices
remained as they were BEFORE and the
supply was not radically increased.
The real good to come from the sus-
pension lies in the new ideas it has
given New England, the high protec-.
ton stronghold. If that section wants
cheap coal from Nova Scotia, it will
get it-just as soon as the tariff is
revised. It is worth something to
have made such a strong friend.
w. w. Jermane