Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-20
COMMISSION SEEKS
INFORMATION ON LACK
OF CARS
PRoUTY IN ST. LOUIS
Fuel Famine in the Northwest Will
Soon be Broken-Is Result Of lmme-
diate Action Of Interstate Commits
sion-Coal on Road.

st. Louis. Dec 1S.-The interstate
commerce commission today began an
investigation into the shortage OIL
freight cars. The hearing is expected
to conclude tomorrow when the men,
bers of the commission will go to Kan
sas City to resume the Investigation
Commissioner ProHty presided.
Commission is Startled,
Minneapolis. Dec. 1S.-The interstate
commerce commission today received
numerous replies to the inquiry sent
to various points in the northwest
asking as to the coal supply which
showed the commission had acted none
/ too quickly in securing the co-opera-
ton of the coal and railroad companies
! in relieving the distress occasloned by
the shortage of fuel. The kilograms
made it clear that the farmers and res
idents of small towns are burning
fences. out buildings and valuable
lumber TO keep the people from treez-
| ing to death. 1t is also shown that the
failure OF the railroads to move the
crops had put the country CONNER
cially in a strained condition. The
commission expressed itself as startled
at the information. which showed the
situation as much more serious in ev-
cry respect than was anticipated.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Zee. 1S.-The
fuel famine in the northwest will be
Il broken within twenty-four house, as
result of the interstate commerce com
mission inquiry in this city yesterday.
j The commission was represented by
James S. Earlan of Chicago and Frank
lin x. Lane of San Francisco Lane
is taking personal charge OF the fuel
famine inquiry, while Harlan is buslly
engaged il. the car shortage inquiry,
the result of which is to the direct in
terest of the farmer and small grain
man. 1t was decided that since the
fuel famine was most important, there
| being already many reports alone of
f suffering from cold in North Dakota,
: and it should be the first to be handled
and settled for the relief of the suffer
ing.
Suffering Reported.
], Through kilograms from two suffer
ing North Dakota towns, Lane quizzed
| E.. C. Blanchard, division superintend
2 ent of the Northern Pacific at Duluth
: and D. NJ. Philbin, assistant general
. agent of the Great Northern road at
.. Duluth, and cleaned from them much
,, evidence of the possibility of their fill
i ing and delivering such cars of coal
t as the suffering towns needed. Before
. Lane had finished his examination OF
r the witnesses both had promised thai
: relief would be Forthcoming within the
t next twenty-four hours.
Elicit Explains Matters.
: Washington, d. c., Dec. 1S.-In re
+ Spouse to kilograms of inquiry ad
: dressed to presidents of several west
7 ern railroads by the interstate com
:, merce commission as to the causes !.
:, the reported shortage of cars for the
4 transportation of fuel, by reason O
h which great suffering had been created
It President Howard Elliott of the North
y ern Pacific Railway company tele
I. graphs the commission from st. Pau
e as follows:
= There Is a scarcity of fuel in some
V parts of the country served by on
0 line, but we do not know of any short
| company has done and will continue u
do all that it can to prevent suffer
e e ing.
Inc company fedllLeu III June dN
o July that the fuel supply was likei
e to be inadequate and that the grea
n increase in general business proba
a, bly, would produce a congestion in tn
II autumn. We therefore urged all dea
u ers at that time to look ahead and prr
:, vide a stock of coal early and to tr
n to find new sources of supply.
n Reason Given Is Incorrect.
- 81 think the reason given in you
# ge-extraordinary delays in mo,
> ing-is incorrect so far as this con
j. pany is concerned. The difficulty j
N Montana, Idaho and Washington
that not enough coal is being produce
to supply promptly the increased d.
nestle trade and at the sam
$, time furnish the railroad wit
) fuel for the operation of i,
40 trains Then, in November, unprec
= denied floodssin and west of the Ca
"a cade mountains damaged our track
r. so that trains could not move owe
importan, parts of the road for mo!
in than week and number Of impo
tant coal mines could not be reac
u ed This flooa damage complicate
l. the situation"
TYRONE.