The Ordway new era., 1907-05-17
CROP OPCOND|TIONS
RECENT SNOW AND RAINS po'
DRY FARMING FORWARD.
A POSSIBLE COAL FAMINE
Union Pacific General superintendent
Advises Dealers in Small Towns
to Fill Their Bins.

to Fill lner oh'''
w l., Park, general superintendent
Of the Union Pacific railroad, is authof
ty for the statement that crop cohu''
,ions In the Northwest are norhih''
wheat is looking at its best, ana te'
cent snow and rain storms have pro
vided ample moisture to practicaiS i"'
sure the crop. He notes great aetiN'
Ity in the dry farming in western nan
sas and eastern Colorado. Many new
people are going into this region.
In view of the rapid settlement ot
the country, Mr.. Park is of the op'h'
ion that the coal situation is the most
serious that confronts the people, par
ticuIarly in the West. The population
Is growing so fast that the demands
maze upon the mines are very mueh
beyond their capacity.
He says: 1T Is quite likely tha'
next winter will see much more Sc
rious conditions than existed durlhS
the past, for the reason that the couh'
try west OF Rock Springs mines Is set
Ting up very rapidly and requires the
entire commercial output at the pres
ent time. Recently very little kock
Springs coal has been shipped east OF
Cheyenne and practically none has ieit
the rails of the Union Pacific or Its ar
ffliated lines during the past year. IL
may be possible for the consumers
along the Union Pacific. east OF ROCK
Springs, 20 obtain this coal, II the deal
ers store II during the summer. TINS
We are urging them TO do. knowing
how much the people appreciate the
quality OF this fuel. This would also
give them some insurance against
coal famine in the winter OF lg01-s, 10
which they are entitled.
"As the railroads will be entirely Sc
gregated from the coal business next
winter. II is up TO the dealers to pro
vide such facilities for storing II and
It is up 10 the people to see that they
do IL. Heretofore. the railroads pro
tected the people against coal short
ages by selling from their company
supply coal to individuals and to deal.
ers. Under the Hepburn bill this viii
not hereafter be permitted.
1T is by no means a question oi
transportation. The problem will be
producing the coal in sufficient quand.
ties TO meet Increased demands.
Il would not Ike to see the people
along our line suffer as they have done
in Montana and Dakota. and In Can
ada. during the past winter. and
want TO get on record this early that
they must look out for themselves TO
a greater extent than they have done
heretofore, on account Of the changed
conditions.
Our road. as well as the other lines
have plenty Of cars and power at this
time TO handle coal, and instead OF
laying the miners on during the sum.
mer. as has been the practice FIRE,
quently heretofore. they should be con.
tinuously employed and the coal got.
ten to where II is accessible to the con.
sumer. Those who have the space in
their cellar bins should lay in good
supply. a great many can. by very
small expense. add to their individual
supplies. Neither the dealers nor the
railroads can riEhtfully be expected 10
assume the entire responsibility for a
coal famine. The small consumer mus,
sit mp and take notice Of the existing
conditions and protect himself as far
as possible, either by contracting with
his dealers for an early delivery In or
der that he may provide facilities for
holding or taking the coal and storing
II on his own premises"