Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-04-04
4 REPUTATION
q. =, F.lss Rsssrts ssst OF Re-
.u., cllnae3c ceelltisas u
Nerth Daksta Lest Wlatsr.
x..e,., Committee e1 TIE etssse
.p..,eseaeatlyes Make . Tier.
oash Investigated.
-. w;.,er Was Net Uasssaa1y So
-. Al Cases % 8s1esslag
were rev 10 Nsnbsr.

vefe, aeA Cases es Sssseseee
Were Few 10 Nenher.
I,out the middle Of the last session
;, ,he legislative assembly Treadwell
T.,chell. Speaker Of the House. pur.
.,.nt to a resolution adopted by that
hodv appointed committee Of three
- make careful inquiry as to the true
conditions that existed during the win
~ the cases Of suffering II any. and
,he cause of the shortage of fuel; such
committee to report before the close
- the session. The committee found
that the only difference between the
x,nter lust passed and its predeces-
sors vas that in some parts there was
more snow than usual, which blockad-
I'd railway trains SO that in places
there was a shortage OF fuel. This
shortage however. was chiefly caused
by low coal-bins at the beginning of
winter. because the roads, although
they made earnest efforts to do SO,
found it impossible to handle the Inn
mense trafic Of the New Northwest,
caused by the big crops. In nearly
every instance 1t was found that I'm
convenience would be the proper
word rather than suffering" and it
vas also ascertained that the stories
sent broadcast that many people were
frozen to death in North Dakota were
utterly and absolutely false. The re-
port of the committee Is given below
in full, taken from the house journal:
I'm pursuance of resolution adopt
ed by the house, the undersigned COM
mittee was appointed for the purpose
Of investigating the conditions that
prevailed in various parts of the state
during the winter regarding the re-
ported fuel and food famine, and beg
leave to make the following report:
We have had a fair opportunity to
ascertain the facts from large por-
ton Of the state. from persons who
are residents thereof and conversant
with the conditions that existed In
their respective localities.
1T is the general verdict that some
Of our people were more badly scared
than injured, and complained when
there was little occasion for making
complaints.
I'VE have the statements of a large
number of stockmen. and the univer-
sal verdict is that their stock has
come through the winter better than
during the average year In this state.
Cattle and horses look fine and are in
remarkably good condition.
1T is the testimony Of many Of
these stockmen that they know of no
deaths by freezing in their localities,
and very few instances Of scarcity Of
iuel. They also report that cattle,
norses and sheep grazed on the prairie
through the greater part of the winter,
ana that there have been no unusual
losses in sheep-the tenderest of all
live stock.
we also find that the rural mail
routes were kept open. and that the
mails were regularly delivered.
we know of no instances where the
pubic schools were closed for the
want of fuel
Inc general verdict is that IL there
was any severe suffering 1t was with
uiat class of people who would not
even carry in coal II 1t was near their
doors.
Inc congested condition Of the rail.
'oaos was due. to great extent, to
'le enormous crops produced last
.ssr. The crops for the last few years
la'e oeen SO large that they have ere.
a'eo larger demand for railroad IA.
s,n''es than the railroads could sup
ply.
me weather-bureau report shows
.la' 'ne snowfall for the entire state
a'eraged about twelve inches. and
uucn OF this melted before the end Of
February. :
from reports received from the
euSestern portion of the state,
,a a.Ie there are practically NO rail.
vs... ssus, w., We find that people suffered
~ s ll,1le' and there were no reports
:. ~ uea'hs. either from lack Of fuel o,
"a. anu live stock never was In bet.
tho soau''lon ,a at the present season Of
n year One individual stated that
nr.;. u'l'e OF forty miles across the
which - ae saw eight herds of horses
be,,es showed fine condition. and he
con,s - me poorest one in the lot
aeetsst Aol have been caught by the
s,s,,es'.iooted. s,s,s well-kept horse in the
admi,t; '''inois. He said that. while
v;n,' whiting that We have had a cold
aers,... were it not for the grossly ex
eastern u reports published in the
ter 'esn papers We would have forsot r, ,l.t
resis,ssas sas ago that the thermomete,
'seered below zero.
Another gentlemen
in our 49,. .nat there was enough Goa
STATE to heat all the houses II