The Elbert County tribune., 1907-05-16
CROP CONDITIONS
RECENT SNOW AND RAINS PUT
DRY FARMING FORWARD.
A POSSIBLE COAL FAMINE
Union Pacific General Superintendent
Advises Dealers in Small Towns
to Fill Their Bins.


w. l.. Park. general superintendent
of the Union Pacific railroad is author
ity for the statement that crop condi-
tions in the Northwest are normal,
wheat is looking at its best, and re
cent snow and rain storms have pro
vided ample moisture to practically in
sure the crop. He notes great activ-
ity in the dry farming in western Kan
sas and eastern Colorado, Many new
people are going into this region.
In view of the rapid settlement of
the country, MIR. Park is of the opin-
ion that the ccal situation is the most
serious that confronts the people, par
ticularly in the West The population
Is growing so fast that the demands
maze upon the mines are very mucn
beyond their capacity.
He says: 1T is quite likely that
next winter will see a much more Sc
rious conditions than existed during
the past, for the reason that The coun-
try west of Rock Springs mines is set
Ting up very rapidly and requires the
entire commercial output at the pres
ent time. Recently very little Rock
Springs coal has been shipped east of
Cheyenne and practically none has left
the rails of the Union Pacific or its af-
filiated lines during the past year. 1t
may be possible for the consumers
along the Union Pacific, east of Rock
Springs, to obtain this coal, II the deal
ers store 1t during the summer. This
we are urging them to do. knowing
how much the people appreciate the
quality of this fuel. This would also
give them some insurance against a
coal famine In the winter of 1907-s, to
which they are entitled.
AS the railroads will be entirely Sc
gregated from the coal business next
winter. 1t is up to the dealers to pro-
vide such facilities for storing 1t and
1t is up to the people to see that they
do 1t. Heretofore, the railroads pro
tected the people against coal short
ages by selling from their company
supply coal to individuals and to deal.
ers. Under the Hepburn bill this will
not hereafter be permitted.
1T is by no means question OF
transportation. The problem will be
producing the coal In sufficient quan.I-
ties TO meet increased demands.
Il would not like to see the people
along our line suffer as they have done
in Montana and Dakota, and in Can.
ada, during the pas; winter. and
want to get on record this early that
they must look out for themselves to
greater extent than they have done
heretofore, on account Of the changed
conditions.
Our road, as well as the other lines
have plenty of cars and power at this
time to handle coal, and instead OF
laying the miners off during the sum.
mer. as has been the practice fre.
quently heretofore. they should be con.
tinuously employed and the coal got.
ten to where 1t is accessible to the con,
sumer. Those who have the space in
their cellar bins should lay in a good
supply. A great many can. by very
small expense, add to their individual
supplies. Neither the dealers nor the
railroads can rightfully be expected to
assume the entire responsibility for a
coal famine. The small consumer must
sit up and take notice of the existing
conditions and protect himself as far
as possible, either by contracting with
his dealers for an early delivery in or.
der that he may provide facilities for
holding or taking the coal and storing
1t on his own premises"