The daily tribune., 1907-06-01
COAL SCARCITY PREDICTED
DURING COMING WINTER

uViluihIo uollVoIy W Uilo CoAbuhucI, oIo
OF the firm belief that unless imme-
diate and strenuous steps are taken by
the public in general, there will be
scarcity Of coal by the middle Of the
coming winter which will be Of
alarming proportions, and which will
be the means Of causing great suffer-
ing to the unpreparcd.
How narrowly such condition
was averted during the past winter,
especially in the states Of Wyoming,
Utah and Colorado, is known by
many, and the predicted scarcity,
should it be allowed to overtake us,
could not be considered as an unfor-
seen or unheralded disaster, but in
fact as tho only outcome which could
be expected. The states surrounding
Colorado, and which depend on her
for their supply Of fuel, were the ones
to suffer last year, and unless the
cnsumers In this state wish to undergo
the rigorous and expensive demands
that coal famine would entail, it
behooves them to lay in stock dur
ing the next few months that will be
sufficient to meet the demands of at
least the larger part Of the winter.
Railroad officials in Colorado are
doing all in their power to convince
the dealers and through them the con-
sumers, Of the extreme gravity Of
situation and are doing their utmost
to encourage the taking OH Of large
storage supply as can be carried.
It Is unfortunate that the greatest
demands ON the railroads for car serv-
ice for coal transportation come at a
time Of the year when a universal
cry ON all sides from beet growers
and grain shippen Is for moro cars.
and 1t is stated by such men as Super
intendent Parks and J. @. Ferguson,
general agent Of the Union Pacific,
and by officials of other roads in this
state, that freight traffic will be
much heavier and its adequate
handling more serious proposition
this year than ever before.
At recent meeting Of the Ameri-
can Railway association 1t was es-
timsted from AZ complete a canvass AZ
could be obtained that during the
month of February the railroads were
short nearly l50, 600 cars Of demands
made upon them. The operating
officials Of the railroads claim that
this condition Ia the greatest prob
lem the railroads have to solve. It
was but typical condition which
was reported in the statement Of one
road, which was to the effect that 1t
had in the month of january 143, 703
more cars on it's tracks than IL owned.
Furthermore, the past few years
have witnessed growth in popula-
tion and cultivation of districts
whose demands up to this time have
been merely nominal, but who now
require practically tho entire output
Of mines in their locality.
General Manager Parker Of tho
Colorado and Southern, in recent
interview. rciteratcs tho statement Of
other officials that tho coal buying
this year should not bo put of until
the eve Of winter, that being the time
''when all kinds OF products are NOV
ing In the greatest qunntitics in the
West and believes that tho only
safeguard for tho public lies in n
more even distribution Of the coal
traffic during tho summer months.
General Agent Valley Of tho
Burlington considercs It extremely
nocesaary that the public 10 impressed
with the situation. He says In part I:
There IL no reason why the farmer.
for instance should not be able to
ster up during tho summer months
NIL that hc will need for tho winter.
II will take him but short time, at
small expense. u erect y slcd that