The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-12-20
SUFFERING IN DAKOTA
GROWS MORE ACUTE
Towns Are In Darkness. at
Night. Schools Closed, No
Fuel in Sight.
ROADS PROMISE HELP
Not n Pound OF Fuel 10 Re Procured
In Many OF the Smaller Tewns
and villsues--Minnssota
Catches Il.

Minneapolis Mimi. Dec. ig.-Thc fuel
famine IN the northwest VIII Ire broken
within twcnty-forr hours on a result
of the Interstate Commerce commission
The commission was represented by
James =. Harlan. uf Chicago. and
Franklin X. Lane. OF san Francisco.
Mr.. Lane IL taking personal charge OF
the fuel famine inquiry. while Mr.. Har-
IAN ~ engaged iu the car shortage iu-
Quiry. IL WAS decided that since the
fuel famine wHs the most important.
there bclng already many reports at
hand 81 suffering from the cold I'm
North Dakota, IL should DC the first to
be handled ana settled.
Mf. Lane questioned y. g.. nl1nch-
nfd, division superintendent Of the
Northern Pacific AT Duluth. ana II. NJ.
Philbir. assistant general agent Of the
Great Northern NJ Duluth. Before Mr.,
Lane had finished hls examination at
relief would be forthcoming within the
next twenty-four hours. and orders
have been given tn rush coal To tn"
suffering towns. MI other traffic being
made secondary until supplies shnii
have been furnished.
Slow Moving OF Freight Cars.
II puzzled the attorneys aud judges
of the commission why IL was that Il
took n freight car ON the average OF
could be made NJ ten-mile rate ga
twenty-five hours.
r. q. Blanchard division suprriu-
tendent OF the Northern Pacific az Du-
luth. by whose testimony this situation
was brought out. explained II by stat
ing that hot boxes frequently delayed
the progress Of u car and that various
other causes contributed To the delay
81 the car IN transit. According to the
testimony Of the Northern Pacific Of
fetal ~ would not he uncommon FOR a
freight car tn move from point TO point
al the rate OF less than mile an hour.
lie stated that there was an Increase
in shipments o. every commodity.
grain. lumber from the coast. mer-
cEandisc. coke. coal ana wood products.
Autumn the Worst Period.
Judge Lane asked the witness for
how long "A period of the year u took
such very long time as from ten to
thirteen days ~ move freight eur 80
miles. and he was told that the COndi-
tions We're unfavorablc TO speed dur
Ing September. October and November.
And you know about this every
year. don't you?" asked Judge Lane.
Yes. We expect IT," was the reply.
You have nine months TO prepare
for IT." stated the court
Yes, va try tn do our best" was the
answer OF Superintendent Blanchard.
State Legislatures TO Act.
Investigation Of the present fuel Cri-
Tis I'm the northwest may not stop with
the investigation Of the InterBtnte Com
mercc commission. II is probable now
that In every affected state. hut nutit-
bly Minnesota. North and South Da-
kota and Montana the subject VIII be
made matter for Legislative invcstigu-
tion. Northwestern coal dealers have
Indicated To the large shippers here that
they plan to stir up Gn official invcsti-
cation In their states. Towns that are
suffering now or have been held in the
grip OF the winter and the famine are
laying their eases before their legiSla-
tors and are asking that the subject b.
brought up at the coming sessions uf
tho stat" legislatures AMI action taken
fu prevent = repetition.
Grand Forks. y. D.. Dec. l9.-The fuel
situation today presents the most crit
teal condition that has existed I'm the
history of the state. Careful inquiry
I'm every portion of the northern half
~ the state shows there H. not a town
In which coal can bc had except In
small quantities and to supply imme-
dlate needs. In dozens 81 places there,
is not q pound 10 bc bought. the deal
ers having been out of fuel for days
and In some cases Tor weeks.
At Larimurc one car Of coal VAS re-
ceived Saturday ana sold nut In guar
ter ton lots. The electric light plaAt
Is running un haif time.
AZ Linton nn Dituminnus coal las
been received for week..
At Lakotu dealers ar" out and indi-
Vdunls are sharing with their neigh
burg.
Al Canho the Hour mill has been
closed three weeks for lack - iurl
81 Granville th" last coal was sold
-, Ccmbcr \.
Al Towncr and Rugby the schools Hrc
closed rs are many smaller places.
Al MinoI the central heating plant is
closed az intervals to save fuel.
There is now more snow on the
ground than at any time since 1896
mus far the state has escaped nigh
winds and bad drifts. hut the storm
sich as H. usual It amy time "a winter
MOULD pile up immense drifts AMI tie
W. roads Tor days ana cripple them
FOR the entire winter.
--------s-s--