The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-08
"A CAPTAIN I'M THE RANKS.
CONTINUED from page 81

4 h@NHNfNh@N hAWN YANN ~
| producing more coal now than we can
market"
"ffow h that7 I don't understand.
Your order book which looked over
today--shows orders a full month
ahead Of shipments, besides many can
ceIed orders. countermandcd because
not Allied promptly enough to satisfy
the customers. You're superintendent
as well az engineer. I wish you'd try
to clear up this puzzle"
"0h, It's simple enougbl The rail-
road people won't furnish us cars
enough. could ship hundred car
loads tomorrow II had the cars, but /
haven't got EN-. and can't get EN-"
"Do you mean that you are offering
coal an freight 10 this railroad and
the road Is refusing IT.
"Yes, that's about IT. I'VE asked for
cars and can't get 'em. except few
each day"
"Do the other mines along this little
branch railroad have the same trou.
bier
"There is only one other mine on
this line"
"Well, does II encounter the same
difficulty In marketing its coaly'
"NoL-at least not to 80 great an ex-
tent You see, somebody there is
standing In with the railroad people.
| suppose they've had little block Of
stock given TO them-the railroad peo-
ple, / mean. SO the Quentin mines
get all the cars they want, and we get
only their leavings."
"Well, now, Mr. Davidson, | give
you this order: Set to work at once
and bring out every ton Of coal you've
got ready In the mine There'll be
cars here TO haul II when you get 1t
ready. Good night, Mr.. Davidson. TIL
talk with you another time about the
other matters. have good deal to
do tonight, 80 can't talk further with
you now"
Davidson went out after grudging
Good night" Duncan did not yet
know or suspect, though be was pres
emily to find out, that to Davidson,
also, the proprietors Of the rival mine
were paying q little tribute as . re-
ward for silence and for making trou-
BILE.
Duncan sat for an hour writing let
tars. One OF them was addressed to
the general freight agent Of the little
railroad on which the mine was sit
uated. II read as follows:
within six days I shall have 100 car
loads OF coal at the mouth OF this mine.
ready for shipment upon orders After
that time shall have about sixty car
loads ready for shipment each day.
Please see TO II that an adequate supply
Of cars TO move this freight are side-
tracked hare on time
Duncan signed that letter with all
needed clrcumspection. The signature
read:
For the Redwood Coal and Iron CON-
pany. Guilford Duncan. manager and at.
torney at law and In fact for the com
pany.
That subscription was intended as
an intimation.
when on the next afternoon the gen
eral freight agent, who had several
times met Duncan at Captain Hal
lam's house. read the letter his atten-
don was at once attracted, precisely as
Guilford Duncan had Intended that Il
should be, by the elaborate formality
Of the signature.
$50 Hallam's got that smart young
man OF his at work. has hep the
freight agent muttered. "Well. we'll
zee what we can do with him." But
he deliberately waited till O'Clock
that night before responding. Then
opening the telegraph key at his el
bow. he called Duncan, and Duncan
J who had learned telegraphing. as he
| had learned many other things. as .
part Of his equipment for work
promptly went to his key and answer
ed the call The general freight agent
spelled out this message:
simply impossible to furnish car
you ask. Haven't got them"
!, Duncan responded:
'The Quentin mine gets all cars need
ed We demand our share. and | shal
insist upon the demand"
!, The reply came:
.sY 4all rnt, xx,a non't III N TIL ruy
down to your place tomorrow or mex
day and explain.
Don't want explanations, answer
ed Duncan. ~ want the cars"
D "But we simply can't furnish them
; "But you simply must"
''what II refuseT'
"Then I'll adopt other measures. But
you won't refuse"
''Why not?"
b Because know too much" answer
ed Duncan. Il shall send to you by
special messenger on the train that will
pass here within an hour letter max
ing formal tender OF the freight.
make that tender by telegraph now
4 and you may as well accept it in thai
way. Your road Is chartered com
mon carrier. Your lawyers will advise
you that you cannot refuse freight
formally rendered to you for carriage
unless you can show an actual lnahil
iy. In that case you must show that
: you are doing your best by all shippers