Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-04
Little Relief of Conditions in
North Dakota From Desper-
ate Situation
BLIZZARD WOULD MEAN DEATH.
Business Places Compelled to Close and
Half of Farmers Entirely Out of
Fuel-FIour Short as Well as Coal
Railroads Promise to Make Effort to
Prevent Freezing.


northwest by opening up snow-block-
AIDED lines and breaking up the car
congestion, forty stations on the Great
Northern road in North Dakota are
reported to be on the ragged edge of
desperation over their present situa-
ton and impending disaster, i'm case
of an unexpected blizzard.
The railroads themselves admit that
blizzard would put several stations
food situation.
Conditions are serious and the out
look 80 black that the interstate COM
merce commission Is considering the
place Of special agent in the north
west to look after the fuel situation
and to get such special relief as can
be secured by the strong influence of
the government.
AS AN indication Of the serious state
of affairs in North Dakota, in the fuel
famine district, an appeal of the Mo-
hall Commercial Club is given here
with:
"Mohall. N. D., Jan. Bin behalf of
the people of this section who are en-
tirely out Of coal and are on the verge
of great suffering. the Commercial
Club of Mohall solicits aid in securing
immediate relief. Upon close investi-
cation we find that fully so per cent Of
the farmers tributary to this town are
out of coal entirely and are burning
hay and straw. Several farmers have
moved to town to remain until coal ar
rives, and many others are expected in
to throw themselves upon the mercy of
the city. The town itself is entirely out
of coal. Not a pound Of it can be
bought, and there is no wood to be had
either. Several business places have
already closed and others will soon
have to. School will not be opened
and our hotels will have to close I'M
less we get relief inside Of thirty-six
hours. In closing the stores there will
be much loss in perishable goods The
weather tonight is stormy, and, with
a lot of loose snow, we are in danger OF
another severe blizzard, in which event
the branch will be showed in for at
least three days, and there is bound
to be much suffering and probably
deaths. For the past month not any
of the farmers have been able to get
more than 500 pounds from the local
dealers, so that whenever we got a car
it would go around and give all lit
tie. Therefore they are all low, If not
entirely out. The situation is desper-
ate in the extreme. The local dealers
have invoices of at least fifteen cars
of coal shipped the early part Of De-
cember, of which they can get no trace.
TIE people are clamoring to know the
cause of all this trouble, and noting
the lively interest taken in the news
papers in regard to the coal shortage
we appeal to them for aid. We have
tried to reach the railroads, but to no
avail. There is suffering at this time.
and there will be deaths unless we get
immediate relief
When this appeal was placed before
him today, w. Clark, chief clerk to
General Manager +. e. Ward of the
Great Northern railroad, said that
while no direct appeal had been made
to the general officers from Mohal it
was thoroughly understood that that
town was in very bad straits. He said
the Great Northern was keeping in
touch with the fuel situation thru its
division superintendent and that ev-
cry assurance would be given that the
company would do everything in it's
power to prevent actual suffering at
any of it's stations.
Reports already in hand at the gen.
eral offices Indicate that forty towns in
North Dakota are in sore need of fuel
Mr. Clark said that the situation was
being watched with minute care and
that preparations had already been
made to supply immediate wants with
company coal on short notice in case
regular shipments were delayed. This
will be done at Mohall if necessary In
the meantime delayed shipments of
coal are being pushed thru as rapidly
as possible. However, cold, windy
weather is impeding the movement of
trains and all the systems are still la
boring under the severe handicap Of
overcrowded terminals and congested
yards at division points.