Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-02-14
the FUEL QUESTION.
p,smarck Feb H. 1906.


on from the outside world by snow
blockades have been making the lives
of the usually deliberate and easy-go-
ing state railway commission abnor-
mally strenuous OF late The railways
Of the state-like all others through
ont the nation-now recognize the TACT
that when state or federal govern
ment gives the right OF eminent DO
main to a railway or kindred trans
prtation company, ii has right to
exact certain things in the way OF re-
turn. one OF these things being the
power to regulate TO certain extent
the business OF such company. TO the
end that the power granted by the
public may not be used for the pub
lies injury. Therefore, during the
snow blockade Of the present winter
the commissioners. through Chairman
Diesem and Secretary Hammond, have
been able to secure from railway Off
GERS daily reports OF the work that
has been done during the previous
twenty-four hours in opening the lines
OF North Dakota AT the suggestion
Of senators. members and other ciu-
zens here from other parts OF the
state. the Officers above named have
promptly used all their influence for
the hurrying of the work. Every let
ter or telegram received by members
here from their home districts, calling
for fuel and the prompt opening OF
The branch lines has been 'phoned at
once 10 Division Superintendent Burt
Of the y. p, a. jamestown, and, when
necessary, to the chief officers at the
cOmpany's headquarters.
The Linton Mckenzie line is one OF
those longest blocked, its closed con-
dition having covered period OF near
ly month. Within the past two
weeks the writer has received several
kilograms and many letters regarding
the serious shortage OF fuel in many
parts Of Emmons county, shortage
which is in some parts rapidly APP
preaching dangerous condition. All
these messages and letters were at
once turned over to the railway COM
missioners and their contents 'phoned
to the various companies that run
through the county.
Letters were received from Brad
dock showing that the condition was a
bad one. The writer saw Superintend-
cnt Derrick almost every evening and
heard his statements as to what the
work Of the day had been In the way
of opening the soo's Bismarck Hank
inson line. This gentleman did his
utmost to open the branch, and every
means at his disposal was used to ac-
cOmplish the purpose. In one OF the
letters received by me a statement
was given OF the fact that a train of
six coal cars going west had passed
through Braddock on the run, and, in
the absence Of knowledge as to the why
and wherefore of the Carrying OF Goals
to Newcastle"-cars of fuel into a
country near the Ignite mines-much
Indignation was felt in the country
tributary to Braddock. The fact is
that the 500 line into the Mclean and
northern Burleigh coal country-to
Wilton and Washburn-was badly
showed under. A large number of
cars stood at Wilton, loaded with lig-
mite. Not pound of coal could leave
until the road was opened. The com.
pany could not open the road without
fuel for its engines, and the cars that
went through Braddock on the fly en-.
abled the company to at once tackle
the line to Wilton, which was soon
opened and cars of coal came out by
the score The rushing Of the coal to
Btsmarck-where there was almost a
fuel famine-withont stopping the
train at stations. where 1t surely
would have been confiscated, was an
absolute necessity, ii the line to the
mines was to be opened; the six cars
OF coal all being used for that purpose.
And the writer will say here that no
man could have done more to relieve
the unfortunate situation than was
done by Mr.. Derrick, OF the 500.
On receipt Of one Of the kilograms
that came from Linton the writer saw
the railroad commissioners and asked
them to try the Milwaukee division
superintendent at Aberdeen: that road
then being closed. A telegram sent
by Secretary Hammond in the morn.
ing OF February 9Th brought the fol.
lowing reply from Superintendent
Mason: Extra that will get through
70 Linton tonight has two cars for
Hague and two cars of soft coal for
Linton-all we have ON this division
u this is insufficient, will send COM
pany COAL AS the telephone line he.
tween Linton and Bismarck has been
out OF whack for couple Of weeks
II is impossible to get quick COM
mnnication. and do not know wheth.
or the coal reached Linton, as Mr..
Mason said 1t would.
From day to day. in answer to my
inquiries. 1t has been stated by the
y. T. people here that. judging by the
last daily reports. the work OF opening
the Linton branch would begin Mon.
day, February 4; but they have been