Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-29
Dr.. C. L. Olsen Holds That Ex-
istIng Fuel Famine is Due
To Railroads.
CALLS IT A GREAT DISGRACE.
Claims That Lack OF Coal is More
Than an Inconvenience for II Is
a Positive Danger.


DIR, {. o. Olsen severely arraigns the
railroads, whom he deems responsible
for the prevailing coal shortage in Utah
and contiguous states,
Or Olsen's arraignment is as follows:
Awakened in the early morning,
Though contemplating during waking
hours the possible esults of the present
long drawn-out coal famine--robbed of
sleep, SO sorely needed-the writer was
bordering over the, in this respect,
gloomy outlook in this otherwise
blessed state. This dire calamity, which
is not only confronting us, but actually
existing, is indeed cause for serious re-
Elections. No doubt every conscientious
parent or provider realizes this fact
and feels keenly the gravity OF the situ-
alton; no doubt, even. many are greatly
perpleXeG, not knowing what to do in
their dilemma.
THAT mines, mills and smelters shall
have to close down for the want of fuel
Is bad enough: but when parents hav-
ing a family of small children around
them shall have to run on short ra-
tons and be compelled to see their
homes cold and cherries, and the fire
in the cook stove, even, burn low, 1T is
quite IL different thing.
And who Is responsible for this con-
dition of affairs? A great deal of eau
tious limiting has been INDUCED In BY
the local press as to where the blame
really lies for the shortage of coal. 1t
Is safe to say, that at least 20 out OF
every 100 who have given the matter a
thought, have long since arrived at the
conclusion that the fault lies with the
railroads In fact, such a conclusion is
so natural and apparent that LOOKING
seriously in any other direction for
cause would almost seem ridiculous.
Lack of cars has been urged as an
excuse. The beet crop, the shipments
of grain, of cattle and OF sheep. the out
put OF the mines, the demands of the
smeters, etc, have been made to do
full duty for the contingency. II would
be hard to convince the average cltl-
zen that the railroad companies are un-
able 10 provide cars in abundance FOR
| their traffic were they willing TO do So
THAT 1t is possible in this trust
cursed land for mighty corporations 10
| close, by one master stroke the leglti-
mate avenues for men to obtain IN an
honorable way the necessities OF life
is wel-known fact; that just such
conditions give rise TO lawlessness ara
crime can not be denied. but mat III
shall be possible, without hindrance,
for common carriers, like the RAILROADS,
to so arrange matters that the pupIlc,
after having given them franchises ana
other valuable grants, shall STAND III
utter helplessness in crisis so grave
as the one here referred TO, is unbelieV-
able.
with mountains of coal and miners
to dig II; with transportation COM
ponies who, at least imphedly, nave
agreed to ship it. and with an ever
inceasing population ready and VIKING
to pay in the hardest of gold the fuli
price asked for the commodity lwhen IL
can be gotten)--even n price demon
strated to be unwarrantably nigh
shall the people of this state he COM
PEELED 10 remain helpless in this situa-
tion2
what would be thought of, or what
would be done with, for instance, a
teamster who, having received certain
concessions say, from mining conf
pany. in order TO haul its ore. should
plead inability to handle the same be-
cause of lack Of teams or wagons!
Why. the company would look upon
that teamster as a miserable taliure
and would try to help Itself.
The writing of newspaper editorials
and articles are good enough 10 nun
ner, and they may, even, do vast
amount of good, serving, as they 40.
TO show which way the wind blows;
but now right now, JIG the time 10 act
not to phllosophize. IL Is not 'aues-
ton of what those who are nnanclaHy
able may do next year IN the way OF
laying IN ahead a years supply OF coAI
whatever there can be OF justice IN
such a proposltion-bu innocent emil
dren. not TO speak OF heartsick parents.
are suffering, yes, absolutely suffering,
this very hour, for fuel with whlch 10
keen their bodies warm. What dis
gracel Hero we are, impioring ue
generous-hearted American people TO
give OF their abundance TO starving
S,hinese while thousands of our own
aesh and blood IN this very state are
made 10 feel the fearful pangs Of cold, |
and for no other conceivable reason |
tbsu a stubborn refusal or neglect on \
rho part OF the common carriers 70 sup
ply coal, and that, too, for ample con-
now IN session may be able 10 find
permanent solution 10 this Vexed
problem that with each year, soom-
ngly. is getting harder and harder
to solve.
IF railroad commission is at all
likely to exert m influence in the way
of removing the hardships that the
OF this state have had TO
bear for years, in begging aud plead
ing for coHl---and then 10 suffer with
out it.-for heavens sake. lei US have
such a commission, our friends, the
legislators need not be afraid 10 vote
for any measure calculated 10 prevent
E manifest injustice 10 their constitu-
ents.
some have expressed the fear.
that any eftorI ON the pnrt OF the
people OF this state 10 assert their
right of fair treatment
at the hands OF the railroads, as for
instance. By creating a railroad COM
mission, would deter other companies
from coming into our state 10 build,
No fear need be entertained on that
score II business will Justify It,
and It will. in this great and growing
shall have all the
railroads we shall need.
ITO characterize the present coal
famine aB an Inconvenience IL far
from the full truth, II r. q positive
danger The individual power of re-
slatance Is lowered; physical endur-
ince Is lessenad sickness, disease ana
ieath must necessarily follow The ok
posurs 10 cald which many IN this
resion at presant are rendered liable
10.
In the namo Of all that ls fair,
OF the 10 rrnor, the legislature ana
syery citizen of this state riso un and
Ioin IN mighty effort 20 md a
speedy and lasting relief from the
dangerous plight into which we are
brown, whether 10 placed by schom- !