The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-12-20
SUFFERING IN DAKOTA
GROWS MORE ACUTE
Towns Are In Darkness 4,
Night. Schools Closed, No
So Fue! in Sight.
ROADS PROMISE HELP
Not a Pound of Fuel to Be Procured
In Many Of the Smaller Towns
and viliases-Minnesota
Catches 1t.
ROADS PROMISE HELP

Minneapolis MlHfl., Lee. IS.-lIle IuSil
famine In the northwest will be broken
within twenty-four hours as a result
of the Interstate Commerce commission
The commission was represented by
James S. Harlan, Of Chicago, and
Franklin *. Lane, of San Francisco,
Mr.. Lane is taking personal charge of
the fuel famine inquiry, while Mr.. Har-
Ian is engaged in the a shortage in-j
quiry. 1t was decided that since the
fuel famine was the most important,
there being already many reports at
hand Of suffering from the cold in
North Dakota, it should be the first to-
be handled and settled.
Mr.. Lane. questioned Il. G. Bfafiefi-l
ard, division superintendent of the
Northern Pacific at Duluth, and D. M,
Philbin, assistant general agent Of the
Great Northern at Duluth. Before Mr.,
Lane had finished his examination of
the witnesses both had promised that
relief would he forthcoming within the,
next twenty-four hours, and orders
have been given to rush coal to the
suffering towns, all other traffic being
made secondary until supplies shall
have been furnished.
Slow Moving of Freight Cars.
1t puzzled the attorneys and judges
of h commission why it was hat it
took a freight a on the average of
about thirteen days to make a trip that
could be made at a ten-mile rate in
twenty-five hours.
T. G. Blanchard. division superin-'
tendent of the Northern Pacific at Du-
luth, by whose testimony this situation
was brought out, explained it by stat
ing that hot boxes frequently delayed
the progress of a car and hat various
other auseS contributed to the delay
of the car in transit. According to the
testimony of the Northern Pacific Of
fetal it would not be for a
freight car to move from point to point
at the rate of less than a mile an hour.
He stated that there was a increase
in shipments in every commodity,
grain, lumber from the coast, mer-
chandise, coke, coal and wood products.
Autumn the Worst Period.
Judge Lane asked the witness for
how long a period of the year it took
such a very long time as from ten to-
thirteen days to move a freight car $50
miles. and he was told that the condi-
lions We're ~unfavorable to speed dur
ing September, October and November.
And you know abou 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, we try to do our best" was the
State Legislatures to Act.
Investigation of the present fuel cri-
sis in the northwest may not stop with
the investigation of the Interstate Com
merce commission. 1t is probable now
that in every affected state, but nota-,
bly, Minnesota, North and South Da-'
lkota and Montana he subject will be
made a matter for legislative investiga-
ton. Northwestern coal dealers have
indicated to the large shippers here tina
they plan to stir up an official investi-
CATION in their states. Towns tina are
SIffprjnp now or ha va laaaro ha11 II, tha
grip of the winter and the famine are
laying their cases before their legisla-
tors and are asking that the subject be
brought up at the coming sessions Of
the state legislatures and action taken
to prevent a repetition.
Grand Forks, N. D., Dec. 19.-The fuel
situation today presents the most crit
ical condition that has existed in the
history of the state. Careful inquiry,
in every portion Of the northern half
of the state shows there is not a town
in which coal can be had except in
small quantities and to supply imme-
date needs; in dozens Of places there
is not a pound to be bought, the deal,
ers having been out of fuel for days
and in some cases for weeks.
At Iarimore one car of coal was re-
ceived Saturday and sold out in quar-
ter ton lots. The electric light plant
is running on half time.
At Linton no bituminous coal has
been received for weeks.
At Lakota dealers are out and indi-,
viduals are sharing with their neigh,
bors.
At Cando the flour mill has been
closed three weeks for lack of fuel.
At Granville the last coal was sold
December s.
At Towner and Rugby the schools are.
closed as are many smaller places.
III AT EMlnOt the central hh9tino n1ant icl
closed at intervals to save fuel.
There is now more snow on the
ground than at any time since 1896.
Thus far the state has escaped high
winds n bad drifts, but the storm,
such as is usual at any time in winter
would pile up immense drifts and tie
UP roads for days and cripple them
for the entire winter.