Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-02
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS
REPORT TO The SENATE

The special report of the railroad
commits ioners, prepared and fled III I
response to a resolution of the senate
adopted early in the session, has been
printed and is ready for distribution
among the. members Of the legislative
assembly and through the state. The
report embo dies letters and kilograms
received and sent by the commission,
during the time Of complaints Of car
shortage and some general 6bserva-
tions by the members of the commits
sion as to the reasons for car and
fuel shortage in the state. 8 gss5
About twenty pages of the report
are taken up with copies Of letters
and kilograms dealing with the mat
ter OF car and fuel shortage In its,
conclusions the report embodies the
following
The rapid and unprecede
4 growth of business during the past
few years has been far in excess Of
the increase Of railroad facilities for
ding same, and no man or body
of men could have foreseen this
enormous increase, which is largely
responsible for the present congested
conditions and resulting inability to.
furnish cars as promptly as demanded
by shippers. NJ
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
orders have been placed at the head
sof8 the lakes. Therefore no precau-
ation was taken, or special efforts.
made, to fill 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 Increased work on the
farm, many farmers were reluctant to
lose time in securing the usual win
tiers supply OF fuel. until cold weather
and storms had let in. ss i3 sss
It has been observed by the com
mission, that the employees in the.
freight service are in many instances
indifferent to their duties to the pub,
lie This indifference has been SO ap-
parent that the commission has
criticized the conditions to the rain
way management. Incivility to pa.
irons has been noticed, and un-
necessary time consumed in moving
cars. Such Indifference would not be.
tolerated by private enterprises.
Whether this is due to the lack of
harmony between organized labor and
railway managers, or to some other
cause, the commission is unable to
say It is true, probably Oh account
Of the scarcity of labor, that many
inexp erienced men are in the train
service of the several railways Of the
state. # f II
It might be well to state that the
so-called car shortage is not an entire
lyFneW condition in our state. Same
( conditions obtained in 1905, but not
In SO aggravated form as at present.
1T would therefore seem that the
maximum, " of car shortage has been
appro ching for at least one year past,
{ or more. The commission, therefore
has given for your inspection the fiIess
& bearing on the subject under inquiry
during the past fiscal year and up. to-
the present time. This is the com
plete office record on the subject. In.
addition thereto, were the matters
taken up with compliments In person
and with various officials OF the traffic.
& managing and operating departments
of the several railways Of the state, ia
furtherance OF obtaining as rapid and
equitable car distribution as possible.
All complaints and requests fled with
the board were duly considered and
necessary action taken No request
has been ignored, and It has been itss
constant aim, to afford the fullest
equitable relief obtainable in all cases.
This was. as we think, done in a spirit
of fairness without any intention on
the part Of the commission to either
favor complainants 81 defendant rail
q ways.
The commission takes exception to-
that part Of your resolution declaring,
that the lives Of citizens Of the state
have been endangered on account Of
the great scarcity Of fuel because Of
!, the negligence Of the railroad com
\ panies. # believes that investiga-
tion 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-
l the anticipated congestion. That this
advice was not fully needed, possibly
i because Of the promised reduction In