The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-19
COAL FAMINE IS
NOT IMPOSSIBLE
COLD WEATHER WOULD EXHAUST
SUPPLY ON HAND.
Eastern Railroads Are Holding West
ern Roads Cars in the East, Instead
of Allowing Them to Come West
Loaded with Fuel-Real Trouble Will
Come Later.

If Minneapolis experiences a coal
famine this winter, it can be blamed
to the eastern railroads that are hold
ing western road cars in the east, in
stead Of allowing them to come west.
where they belong, bringing coal: For
the present, the city is fairly well sup
piled with coal, owing largely to, the
but sudden drop in temperature
would cause a tightening, and, if con-
tlnued, might close things entirely.
This IS the view Of the coal situation
here, taken by prominent coal man
who has just returned from an extern
sive trip thru the middle west.
In late years the eastern roads have
refused to allow their cars off their
own systems. Western cars that go
east are collared, tho, and held. As
the rental of these cars is but 20 cents
a day for the first thirty days, and
dollar a day after, eastern railroad
financiers feel that they can stand the
strain of renting them, especially since
the earning capacity of cars at pres
ent is from SIS to $25 a day. These
cars that should be loaded with coal
and returned are being held. and Min
neapolis is. getting little coal.
There has been an enormous increase
in coal consumption in the west this
year, the railroads themselves taking
far more than usual, on account of the
heavy crop movement. AS a result, the
dock companies, on which most of the
local jobbers depend for coal, are run
ming lower now than they are gener-
ally in January and February. Their
statesmen have been called off the road
and they have ceased quoting certain
them. The lake season is closed and
the surplus must come all-rail, but
| there are no cars obtainable.
The same shortage exists elsewhere.
Manufacturing centers as far east as
Ohio are feeling it, and in some cases
factories fear that they will he COM
PEELED to close down. To show how bad
the situation is, it is only necessary to
say that some of the railroads east
of Chicago are obliged to confscate
| coal when it comes to their lines. At
the mines short crews are working or
! full crews are used but part of the
time. Minneapolis has in times past
| been able to fall back on Illinois and
Indiana coal, but now the Illinois Cen
trail and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois.
where most of this coal originates, have
recently refused to allow their cars of
their lines. This cuts out Minneapolis
| There is some coal moving, in spite
| of the car shortage, but the real trou
! Dlo VII CuIne petMceA ILL ny anu St,A'f
days from now. Then the cold weather
will complicate the shortage and local
dealers will have to do some tall hust
ling to meet the demand.
The northwest is in shape to stand
perhaps more than any other section
There is plenty of Ignite in North Da
kota that can be used if necessary. The
! North Dakota state law compels it:
use in state institutions and it ha'
proved satisfactory. There is also mucl
mill refuse that makes good steam fue
and enough wood to tide over a consid
cradle fuel shortage.