The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-08
PREDICT RELIEF
THRU COLD SPELL
COAL MEN SAY FREEZEUP WILL
RELEASE COAL CARS.
Closing Of Lake Navigation Would
Mean the End of the Ore Shipments
and Turn Cars and Locomotives to
! the Transportation Of Coal and Grain.

Shippers declare today that sharp
cold spell would prove the most potent
influence in ending the freight car
shortage and averting the fuel famine
which menaces the northwest. Cold
weather, it is pointed out, would close
lake navigation, stop the rushing Of
freight to lake ports, and shut off the
movement Of ore from the iron ranges
to lake ports. The motive power that
is used in rushing this extremely profit
able class of freight could be turned
to other uses. Cold weather would
freeze ore in the dock pockets so that
it could not be moved. ..,..s.
The closing of navigation would also
stop the movement Of wheat to lake
ports, where grain is now accepted at q
high rate, tho navigation is officially
closed. This in turn, it Is said. would
relieve the congestion at the lake ter
minals, which will be cleared out and
make it posi- BILE to move cars faster at
these terminals.
Blame for Famine.
Coal men who have exceptional facil-
tiles for following the situation locally
and at Duluth lay blame on three
things: the use of a large amount Of
motive power for hauling ore, the rush
ing Of empties' from lake ports west
to get grain to lake ports, and the con-
sequent congestion at lake terminals
It is admitted that from day to day
some little relief is noticeable and they
are, disposed to give to T b Q J Jour
a l great measure of credit for It's
activity in calling attention to the ex-
listing. conditions. It is admitted that
points in the northwest are without
fuel, or stocks are low. Moreover it is
said that In their attention to freight
the railroads themselves have neglected
to load up sufficient stocks for their
own use.
The situation will be further compli-
Gated, it is said, as soon as severe cold
weather sets in, as Minneapolis and
st. Paul will then have absolute need
OF $500 tons of coal each day. A cold
snap will cut down local stocks and
depend entirely on regular arrivals.
Prominent coal men say that there
are extenuating circumstances. It is
charged, however, that greater atten-
tion to railroad dividends at the ex-
pense of service is the cause of the
present trouble.
It is charged that not only is there
trouble in getting cars enough, but
that often they are not moved for
"GJo AAon 'Ae uoChS: Eases are clCeQ
docks, is left there or stalled in the
yards from two to six weeks before
being moved. Lack of power in the
yards to move cars and also lack of
yard room are admitted causes, but it
is charged that this situation might
have been relieved weeks ago if there
had been a desire on the part of the
roads to furnish service. -
Used for Ore Traffic.
1t. is asserted that many locomotives
needed to save wholesale damage to
wheat and loss to farmers, and to pro-
vide fuel against q cold snap, are used
IN rushing. ore from the range mines
to the head of the lakes, for Shipment
by water.
This cuts down the motive power
available. for clearing congested Yards
and moving cars already loaded. It is
known that the grain rushing out of
the west is carried to lake ports for
water shipment. It is charged that
these cars are not turned ovsr to coal
companies to carry coal back to points
where there is absolute need for it, but
that trains of empties are rushed back
to competing points in the west for
more grain, as more cars can be handled
at one time in this way. This atten-
ton to ore and grain for lake Shipments
is blamed for the congestion at lake
terminals. '-cr y. - :
None of the large coal companies has
any statesmen out and sales and office
forces are practically idle. Country
phone and telegraph to to- hasten a' s sSie.
ments and in many cases are coming
200 or 800 miles to see if personal per-
suasion will help.