The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-13
Good Advice From e. p. General
Superintendent.
Mr.. Park Declares This to Be
Time to Lay Up Coal.
ROADS CAN HAUL NOW
To Prevent a Famine Mines
Should Be Kept Busy.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

W. L. Park, general superintendent
of the Union Pacific railroad. with
headquarters at Omaha, is authority
for the statement that crop conditions
in the Northwest are normal, wheat
is looking at its best, and recent snow
ana rain storms have provided ample
moisture to practically insure the crop.
He notes great activity in the dry
farming in western Kansas end east
ern Colorado. Many new people are
going into this region
In view of the rapid settlement of he
country, Mr.. Park is IF the opinion
Gus that confronts the people, particu-
larly in the west The population IS
growing so fast that the demands made
upon the mines are very much beyond
their capacity.
He says: 1T Is quite likely that next
winter Will see a much more serious
condition than existed during the past,
for the reason that the country west of
Rock Springs mines is settling up very
rapidly and requires the entire COM
mercial output at the present time.
Recently very little Rock Springs coal
has been shipped east of Cheyenne and
practically none has left the rails of
the Union Pacific or its affiliated lines
during the past year. 1t may be pos
sible for the consumers along the Union
Pacific, east of Rock Springs, to obtain
this coal, If the dealers store it during
the summer. This We are urging them
10 do, knowing how much the people
appreciate the quality of this fuel This
would also give them some insurance
against a coal famine in the winter of
1918, to which they are entitled.
LAS the railroads will be entirely
segregated from the coal business next
winter 1t is up to the dealers to pro-
vide such facilities for storing it and
1T is up to the people to see that they
do it. Heretofore. the railroads pro-
tected the people against coal short
ages by selling from their company
supply coal to individuals and to dea-
lers. Under the Hepburn bill this will
not, hereafter. be permitted
= II would not like to see the people
along our line suffer as they have done
in northwestern and southwestern
Kansas, Montana and Dakota and in
Canada during the past winter ana l
want to get on record this early that
they must look out for themselves to
a greater extent than they have done
reret cfore, on account of the changed
conditions.
Our roads, as well as the other lines
have plenty of cars and power at this
time to handle coal and instead of lay
ing the miners off during the summer.
as has been the practice frequently
heretofore, they should be continuous
ly employed and the coal gotten TO
where it is accessible to the consumed
Those who have the Space IN their Gel
lar bins should lay in good supply.
A great many can, by very small ex-
pense, add to their individual supplies
Neither the dealers nor the railroads
can rightfulIy be expected to assume
the entire responsibility for coal
famine. The small consumer must sit
up and take notice of the existing con-
ditions and protect himself as far as
possible, either by contracting with ms
dealers for an early delivery In order
that he may provide facilities for hold
ing or taking the coal and storing L
on his own premises