The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-21
Interior Department Blamed for
| Coal Shortage
MINE OPERATOR WRITES CONGRESSMAN
SAYS RAILROADS MUST BE EN-
COURAGED TO OPEN UP
THEIR MINES,


w. Gebo, of Tnermopolis, Wyoming
who has been making an effort to
open coal mines near that place. has
addressed an interesting letter to the
senators and representatives in con
gress from Oregon, Utah, Idaho, WyO
ming and other cOal-prOducing west
ern states. relative to the present
shortage in the coal supply, and the
still greater shortage. when he pre-
diets will follow if the present meth
DDS of the interior department are
continued in relation to coal entries
on the public lands.
In his letter, Mr.. Gebo says. in part:
1T has been said that the railroads
own most of the producing coal
mines in that country. 1t is true that
the older railroad companies were
compelled to open mines or they
would not have been able to get coal
to run their trains. Today the public
is crying to the railroads to turn this
coal over to tnem and tnuS relieve
this stringency. but the railroads must
use their coal to operate their trains
The serious question to consider is
the immediate future of the coal pro-
duction in these nine states. | re-
peat that next winter the actual pro
duction will fall short 40 per cent OF
the normal consumption.
ct must be remembered that two
great Indian reservations, which have
not stick of timer, have been
opened to the public, and will be set
tied upon next summer. What are
these people going to do for coal wher
| the present inhabitants cannot be sup
piled? Many railroad lines are build
| ing across these states, and in veal
or so will be needing thousands OF
tons of coal per day for use as mo
tive power. to say nothing of the new
| towns and settlements growing VI
along tracks.
What Coal Mining Means.
"The eastern people and the gov
eminent do not seem to understand
that it needs company with large
capital to open and develop produ
cling coal mine 1t costs as a mini
mum about 100000 to develop mine
and install the necessary machiner!
with houses and accommodations TO-
miners so that the mine can produc'
say 5000 tons of coal per day. Nor d.
the eastern points or the government
realize that it takes II months t
commence the development OF grea
coal mine. and that it takes from
two to five years to get it to a pro
duction of 1000 to 5000 tons per day
when everything is favorable. 1t re
ouires year to open any considerable
room under ground for getting ou
the coal. 1t takes two months In the
western country to get up plans 1ol
electrical machinery.
Pardon my presumption in sug
costing that:
"First-All coal lands should be re
stored to entry.
"Second-Allow purchases OF gov
eminent coal lands on five years
credit. conditional upon the Goa
| mines being Immediately opened
thereon.
"Third-Allow the purchase by IN
dividual or corporation of enough lane
to Justify the erection of S5OO,OOt
coal plants.
"Fourth-Subsidize such plants by
the government loaning them one hall
the cost of the plant, such loan to be
come first liens and repayable out o.
the first net earnings.
Therefore, it requires courage a.
well as money to open big coal mine
in the far west, where both wages ano
living expenses are high.
Therefore. the production OF Goa
in these far western states should OF
fastered. aided, stimulated.