Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-20
CITIZENS VISIT SALT LAKE.
Come to Confer with Railroad
People Concerning the
Matter.
NEED 1000 TONS AT ONCE.
Should Cold Spell Set In Thousands
Would Suffer Great Discomfort
And Inconvenience.

coal FAMINE Wnlcn Tor six week
has been growing more serious in north
ern Utah, and which it viii take an
immediate shipment of 1000 tons TO IN
any way relieve, was brought to the
attention OF Salt Lakers today by the
visit OF the mayor. the president Of the
city council, and two members of the
Cache Commercial club to this city. IN
search OF solution TO the trouble. The
status Of Logan and the south end Of
Cache valley Is that month ago the
last coal on hand in the yards was de.
livered to purchasers, and now there is
not pound OF coal in the section ex-
cept that on store in the coal bins OF
the various citizens. People are get
ting along with one fire in u house. and
taking coal as 1t arrives, sack at a
time. II 1000 tons We're shipped 10 Lo-
gan today it would last only long
enough to haul It out to clamoring con-
sumers, aid then TO maintain 4 supply
through the winter $500 tons would
have to be shipped in each month
NO TIMBER TO BE HAD
The situation is made more critical
by the fact that the timberland along
the Logan river has recently been
placed in a forest reserve, and there is
no chance TO secure wood for fuel In
place or the badly wanted coal. Mayor
Robinson of Logan stated 10 the
News" this morning that the town wa
q the end OF liz resources and that
unless immediate relief WAS had the
educational institutions would be foiced
10 close, and enterprise would be at
stapdstill.
On account of this fact a conference
was held yesterday among the business
men of Logan and delegation con-
sisting OF Mayor Robinson and c. ".
Lundquist, president of the city coun-
cftyto represent the city; and JW Hen.
Erickson and James Larsen OF the
Cache Commercial club, the latter a
large coal dealer. was dispatched to this
city.
The delegation visited officials Of tho
Oregon Short Line railroad this morn.
ing and talked over the condition of
affairs In the north. The first visit was
made to j. NJ. Moore, the Union PACT
fic coal agent, and after that confer
ences were arranged for with General
Superintendent f. Buckingham. and
Vice President and General Manager
w. II. Bancroft.
MAYOR ROBINSON TALKS
In speaking of the purpose OF their
visit Mayor Robinson said: 1.-The con-
dition IN Logan was bad last year, but
this year 1t Is worse than it ever has
been. We believe that the railroad Of
ficials have not realized the crisis things
have come TO, and that If they know
ho- bad our condition actually is that
they will divert temporarily supply
of coal from other destinations and give
1t to Logan. In case a sudden cold
snap should come now there would be
a great deal OF suffering In Lagoon.
THE coal shipped to Logan supplies
not only the city, but practically the
south half OF the valley, covering a to-
tai population of about $4,000 people.
Our dealers laid in about 1000 tons dur
ing the summer, foreseeing a possible
difficulty, but this was exhausted six
weeks ago. since then there has been
coal famine, and people have been taxi
ing what little was shipped in away
in sackfulls, so that 1t would be distrib-
uted as widely as possible.
REASON FOR SHORTAGE.
"As to the reason for the shortage.
Il seems that II IL simply a case Of the
west growing faster than the coal sup
ply has been developed. The increased
railroad mileage, the Increase Of fac
tories, and Of homes, has created more
orders for coal, than the mines can
supply. We are now a thousand or
ders behind in Logan, and many of
them have been filed for SEVERAL weeks.
What we hope 20 accomplish with
the railroads now Is merely the ship
ping In OF enough to protect US against
a severe cold spell, and then we are
willing to wait for a chance to set In
the bigger shipments necessary TO see
us through the winter. The coal supply
of Logan comes from Kemmemer, Cum
berland and Rock Springs, and these
mines have been kept busy TO almost
their full capacity shipping coal to the
sugar factories, the railroads. and other
big concerns. Since the famine began
six weeks ago, we have tried very hard
TO get bigger supply from the ruil-
roads and there has been lengthy
correspondence on the subject How
ever, II seems that they are having n
great deal of trouble to secure enough
coal to go around. and are In no way
TO blame for the situation"
PROPOSED SOLUTION.
Another reason for the shortage Is
advanced by a member Of the deega-
t'on. II Is that the Idaho railroads
nave formerly been obtaining their coal
from Washington mines, and this year
nave placed their orders with the KEN
merer and Cumberland mines, and In
Milling these orders the shortage has
ioeen created. He thinks that the
bringing In of an auxiliary supply from
washington would solve the situation.