Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-12-21
FUEL FAMINE At EXTREME.
NORTH DAKOTA In GRIP OF WORST
COAL SHORTAGE IN ALL
ITS HISTORY.
INVESTIGATION is ON.
Northern Pacifc's President Says He
Foresaw Conditions Months Ago
and Tried to Give Aid.

X. Lane and James Harlan of the IN
terstate commerce commission opened
the investigation here today of the com
plants against railroads for inability ID
handling the crop and general business
and the existing car shortage.
Commissioner Lane stated that the IN
quiry would extend to other parts OF the
country. To further this investigation
the commission has for the past two
weeks had a corps of trained inyestlsl-
tors in the field.
Situation Is Critical.
GRAND FORKS. n. D.. Dec. H.
The fuel situation as 1t eXlsts touay
presents the most critical condition that
has existed in the history OF the state.
Careful inquiry in every portion OF
the northern half of the state shows
that there is not a town in which Goa
can be had except in small quantities
and to supply immediate needs, ana ID
dozens of places there is not a pouno u
be bought, the dealers having been out
of fuel for days and in some cases fol
a week Or more.
Situation Given by Towns.
At Lakota dealers are out and indi-
viduals are sharing with their neighbors
closed for three weeks for lack of fuel
and the light plant closed Thursday, and
individuals are running short. AT Gfan-
Vile the last coal was sold on December
At Towner and Rugby the schools are
closed as in many smaller places.
At Minot the Central Heating plant
has closed down at intervals to save
fuel
These illustrations could be multiplied
indefinitely and the same conditions pre-
vail in the southern half of the state ano
in northern Minnesota.
One of the most serious features Is the
possibility of a snow blockade. There
is now more snow on the ground than at
any time since 1896. Thus far the state
has escaped high winds and bad drifts
but a storm such as is usual at any time
in the winter would pile up huge drifts
and tie up the roads absolutely.
Coal Shortage Explained.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. lin
response 20 kilograms of inquiry adj
dressed to presidents of several western
railways by the interstate commerce
commission as to the causes of reported
shortage of cars for the transportation
of fuel by reason Of which great suffer
ing had been entailed, President Howard
Elliott of the Northern Pacific Railway
company telegraphs the commission from
ESC. 1dul us IOl1OWS'
There is a scarcity of fuel in some parts
of the country served by our line, but we
do not know of any shortage of other nee
essaries Of life. Our company has done anC
will continue to do all that it can to pre-
vent suffering.
The company realized in June and July
last that the fuel supply was likely to be
inadequate and that the great increase IN
general business would probably produce a
congestion in the al tumn. We, therefore.
urged all dealers at that time to look ahead
and provide a stock of coal early and to
try to find new sources of supply.
Denies Road Is at Fault
I think the reason given in your message
namely extraordinary delays in moving, is
incorrect so far this company is con
cerned. The difficulty in Montana, Idaho
and Washington is that not enough coal is
being produced to supply promptly the IN
time furnish the railway with fuel for opc1
alton of it's trains. Then in November I'm
precedented floods in and west of the Cas-
cade mountains damaged our tracks so that
trains could not move over important parts
of the road for more than a week and q
number Of important coal mines could not
be reached. This flood damage complicated
the situation.
In North Dakota and Minnesota the diff
fculty in part is due to trying to move toe
much fuel in a very short time, and in part
to an increase in the consumption of fuel
that is greater than the increase in facil
ties for handling, moving and storing. Also
10 general increase In the movement OF
miscellaneous commodities which cannot be
ignored without subjecting ourselves to a
charge of discrimination. For month par
ticular attention has been given to the
! movement of coal and that commodity is
now being given preference both as to cars
and service
Willing to Help if Possible
We know of only one case on our line in
North Dakota where there has been serious
difficulty and believe that has been relieved
The very serious blizzard of the last few
days in North Dakota has caused delays