East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-03

Notwithstanding the promise of
General Freight Agent r. B. Miller,
of the O. R. & N, to assist in reliev-
ing the fuel shortage in this city, it
continues to grow more serious.
During the month of November, or
in three days traffic, "A empty cars
have passed through Pendleton going
west, over the o. r. & n. and yet it
is impossible to secure cars at Ka-
mela or Meacham for wood shipments
to this city. Coal cars which are un-
loaded at those places and especially
at Kamela are not allowed to remain
there for wood hut are ordered west
Immediately and consequently the
shortage is not being relieved as it
should be, with the near approach of
winter.
The committee appointed by the
Commercial association two weeks
ago to cooperate with Mr.. Miller in
relieving the shortage have been in
vestigating quietly the car movement
and it is ascertained that sufficient
empty cars to make two full trains
have passed through this city within
the past three days, and as many more
in the three days previous to the first
of November.
This is considered by the people in
general to be a direct breach of the
promise made by Mr.. Miller, when the
Commercial association invited him to
come to Pendleton to discuss the mat
ter two weeks ago.
No Westbound Competition.
The reason why the o. r. & n.
will not stop cars westbound to load
with wood and coal, is believed to be
because there is no competition in the
westbound wood and coal business.
and that the company feels that it can
deliver these commodities as it sees
fit.
But there is a sharp competition in
the eastbound lumber trade and every
effort is made to rush empty cars to
Portland and other sawmill points, in
order to load them for eastern ship
ments promptly, before the Northern
Pacific enters the field and secures
o. r. & n. trade.
1t pays them better to rush the cars
than it does to haul coal and wood
westward.
Very little wood or coal is being re-
ceived by Pendleton dealers and the
scarcity is becoming serious. Winter
is approaching and very few people
have their winter supply of fuel. ow-
ing to the failure of the dealers to fill
orders during the summer season.
Dealers are selling only small amounts
to each consumer, in order to make
the supply SO as far as possible, until
shipments are increased.
Should a few weeks of severe wealth
er be experienced in this section. there
would be actual suffering from a lack
of fuel and unless shipments of wood
and coal are received more frequently
the Commercial association committee
and the people feel that strenuous
measures will necessarily have to be
Miller Again Promises.
Agent E. c. Smith today received
a letter from General Freight Agent
Il. r. Miller saying that a personal
representative OF the Q. r. & y. had
been sent to Wyoming to look into
the coal situation and that everything
possible is being done to furnish cars
for fuel shipments. He said among
other things that he was also making
arrangements to secure supply of
Crows Nest coal from british Column
bia and that he wished to assure the
people of Pendleton that he is doing
what is within his power to relieve
the situation here.
"The early bird catches the worm."