Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-12-07
BLAME RAILROADS
FOR COAL FAMINE.
Interstate Commerce Investigation Is Or
dered as Result of Suffering
in West.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dee. 3.-The
Interstate Commerce commission will at
once investigate the excuse made by the
railroads that there are not cars enough
to move freight and also look into exor-
bitant rates charged and increased divi-
dends paid.
At the investigation of land frauds at
Salt Lake City it is claimed that the fuel
famine which cripples industries, para
lyzes manufacturing, closes shelters and
brings much suffering to many homes is
due to the greed of the land grabbers.
Kansas Town Desperate.
Ellis Carton, mayor Of Cimarron,
Kan, contiscated Il carload of coal Sun
day and distributed it among residents
of the city who We're suffering from
cold and unable to get fuel Mayor
Carton is threatened with prosecution
by the Santa Fe road. but dehes the
company.
The situation in Cimarron is similar
to that in a hundred other towns in the
state. With a sudden drop in tempera
ture there is not enough coal on hand
to supply the people one day. Railroads
say they cannot supply ears to Saul
coal.
A similar raid was made at North
Yakima, Wash. Sunday The schools
there have been closed.
Great Problem of the Day.
The most serious problem which faces
the shipping public today is that of get
ting traffic moved said Commissioner
Lane. 1T is no eXaggeration to say that
there are millions of tons of freight
awaiting shipment at the present time
in the United States which the railroads
confess themselves unable promptly to
handle. Whether there is an actual car
shortage or not is 4 question that only
full inquiry can determine. But that
there is fault to be found with the man
ner in which cars are used seems to be
conceded generally by all traffic men.
In the northwest the farmers of the
DakOtaS and Minnesota have filled the
elevators along the lines of the railroads
and are stacking their wheat in great
bins. At the same time there is ample
room for all of this wheat in the terIni-
Minneapolis Duluth and Superior
The farmers who are unable to sell
their grain complain that the railroads
are hauling other traffic and prefcrring
1t, Knowing that they are bound in time
to get the hauling of the wheat Mean
While, however, the price of wheat will
fall and the farmer will be the sufferer.
The commission already has represen-
tatlVeS Ill the northwest making investi-
CATION.
Alberta's Big Coal Strike Over.
The long standing coal strike ot
Lethbridge, Alberta, is over, the opera
tors and men having come to terms
Sunday night. \ large number will re-
turn to work Immediately The following
terms were accepted:
No check off or discrimination be-
tween union and non-union men en-
ployed, but a substantial increase in
has boon A AL;
also provided for in advance of future
disputes.
The news will cause more real re-
joicing throughout the entire west as the
strike has contributed to the fuel famine
and coal had to be brought from the
east.
Marcus Daily Would Settle.
Word has been received by the land
department here that the estate of
Marcus DAILY has offered to settle the
now famous timber cutting suit begun
against it years ago, by the payment of
$150,000.
A special agent of the department of
justice has been sent to Helena Mont,
with a view of negotiating with the at
torneys OF the DAILY estate and the
prospect is that Il settlement will be
reached. The suit against the estate is
for damages amounting to $1,35O,OOO
Would Break Indiana Shortage
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Dec. 3.-At-
torney General Miller is to ask the
courts to compel the Big Four railroad
to accept all coal offered to it by the
Southern Indiana and the Evansville
and Terre Haute roads and to return the
empty cars promptly, in an effort to
break up the car shortage which is
threatening the entire coal industry of
Indiana.
Not only do tho roads rnf,1Sa to daIivnr
coal to be shipped over the Big -Four but
they refuse to switch cars to factories
in the city which are on Big Four
tracks.
POPE HANlI lei ? Poi &c