New-York tribune., 1906-12-16
RAILROADS Make REPLY.
Say They Are Trying to ReleUe
Coal Famine an Northeast.

Washington. Dec. 15.-The Telegram, sent yester-
day by Chairman Knapp of the Interstate Com
merce Commission to the presidents OF various
railroad systems calling their attention to the many
complaints of shortage and failure TO transport
the necessares Of Iife brought forth replies to-day
from Vice-President Pennington OF the Min
neapolis st. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad,
George B. Harris. president of the Burlington &
Quincy Railroad. and Marvin Hughitt of the Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad The answers. however.
are not from the railroad companies supplying the
territory where the shortage of fuel Is said ex-
list. The dispatches made public by the commission
follows:
vice-President Pennington OF the Minneapolis.
st. Paul 6 Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. teiegraphs
from Minneapolis:
cars on our lines west of Minneapolis. except what
You can rest assured We would exert every effort
possible to relieve any suffering there may be on
our line
from Chicago:
and and satisfactory service and be much pleased to
nav hase any suggestions you viii kindly make There
or condition OF traffic on the Burlington road al
shortage and some congestion due to- hs faet that
shippers. especially OF coal have little no
anticipate their orders consequently there is gen
era demand for coal at the first real cold weather.
customers with reasonable promptness. and to do
pong coal @ OF IF t6ere ad is ay
specific complaint on the Burnston road at pres
this company and If the Commission has received
any complaint to failure transport coal on
US the details. and we viii guarantee prompt relief
President Hughitt of the Chicago & Northwestern
said:
The Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company
is not failing at this time has it at any time
sonable promptness, both for fuel and other com
modties. and If there is suffering lack of any
commodity at stations tributary 10 its lines let e
assure you that it is not due to failure the part
OF this company to discharge its full duty in this
respect have during the last three weeks been in
frequent communication with the Governor of South
indicate good supply of fuel az stations on the
line OF This company, especially in Minnesota and
South Dakota
Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota. had a
conference with members of the commission to-
day. He declared that the situation regarding
a shortage Of coal in his state was most deplora-
ble and that the public schools in localities
We're closing on account OF a lack of fuel to keep
the children warm. 1t is said at the commissions
Offices that FOR number OF years at this season
and earlier in the year complaints received of q
lack OF equipment properly TO transport freight
have been received but that the situation was
mover so acute now. The actual work of the
commission in looking into the situation will be-
gin next week at Mmneap polls and Chicago. Com
missoncrs Lane and Harlan left Washington to-
night for Minneapolis to begin the work of in
quiry.
Senator McCumber to-day received the follow
ing telegram from ]. ?. WEittemore. dated at
n. D.:
The United States army could not be better
raiiFo4ts e drop fv&Gryfhns & IN and HaqI us coal
and the whole of il in two weeks.
Mr. McCumbcr announced his intention OF for
warding the telegram 70 the President as the COM
mander in chief of the army.