The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-30
tBy George Davis,

~ Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 30.-In con-
cluding Its report just made to the
state legislature the state railway
commission emphasizes the following
observations relative to the car and
fuel shortage conditions in North Da-
kota:
The rapid and unprecedented growth,
of business during the past few years
has been far in excess of the increase
OF railroad facilities for handling
same. and no man or body Of men
could have foreseen this enormous in
crease, which is largely responsible
for the present oongested conditions
and resulting inability to furnish cars
as promptly as demanded by shippers.
There are many causes for the fuel
shortage. In the past dealers have
had no serious delay in getting con-
signments of fuel promptly after or
ders have been placed at the head of
the lakes. Therefore no precaution
was taken, or special efforts made, to.
'fiM up storage houses; and owing to
the promised lowering of rates, many
dealers held back their orders. Again,
owing to the scarcity Of labor and in
creased work on the farm, many farm
'ers were reluctant to lose time in se-.
curing the usual winter supply of fuel,
until cold weather and storms had
set in.
1t has been observed by the COM
mission, that the employees in the
freight service, are ip many instances
Indifferent to their duties to the pub
lie. This indifference has been so
apparent that the commission has
criticized the conditions to the rail-
way management. Incivility to pat
rons has been noticed, and unneces-
/ <sary time consumed in moving cars.
Such indifference would not be toler-
ated by private enterprises. Whether
this is due to the lack Of harmony. be-
tween organized labor and railway
managers, or to some other cause the
commission is unable to say. It is
true. probably on account of the scar
city Of labor, that many inexperienced
men are in the train service of the sew
eral railways OF the state.
It might be well to state that the So
called car shortage, is not an entirely
new condition in our state. Same
conditions obtained in 1905, but not
in SO aggravated form as at present.
It would therefore seem that the max
imum Of car shortage has been ap-
preaching for at least one year past
or more. The commission, therefor,
has given for your inspection the files
bearing on the subject under inquiry
during the past fiscal year and up to
the present time. This is the complete
Office record on the subject. In. addi-
ton thereto, were the matters taken
up with complainants in person and
with various officials of the traffic,
managing and operating departments
of the several railways of the state, in
furtherance of obtaining as rapid and
equitable car distribution as possible.
All complaints and requests filed with
the board were duly considered and
necessary action taken. No request
has been ignored, and 1t has been it's
constant aim to afford the fullest equit-
able relief obtainable in all cases.
This was, as we think, done in spirit
of fairness without any intention on
the part of the commission to either
favor complainants or defendant rail-
ways.
The commission takes exception to
that part Of your resolution declaring
that the lives Of the citizens of the,
state have been endangered on ac-
count of the great scarcity of fuel
because of the negligence Of the rail-
road companies. It believes that in
vestigation will disclose the fact that
the railways operating in this state,
notified the coal dealers Of impending
congestion in traffic, on account of
the fall grain movement, and advised
the rushing of coal shipments prior
to the anticipated congestion. That
this advice was not fully needed. pos
sibly because of the promised reduc-
ton in freight rates, which was pub
lish9d to take effect on Oct. 10, 1906,
we believe. The shortage of labor,
or other causes, have prevented the
usual stock Of coal being accumulated
on the docks at the head of the lakes,
or the usual production at our own
mines. 1t is probable that under or
binary conditions, the carrier COM
panies would favor the long haul to
the westward, in preference to the
short haul of native coal to the eastr
ward, at the time of year when 1t was
moving In like direction with grain.