New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1907-01-09
FINDS THE CAUSES
Of CAR SHORTAGE
LANE LAYS 1T TO ABUNDANT
WEST BOUND TRAFFIC AT
HEAD OF LAKES.
No Cars Available to Carry Fuel
Commerce Commission Says Com
bine of Coal Dealers Wasn't to
Blame-Discussion of Remedies.

Washington, Jan. 3.-The cause,
but not the cure, for the car shortage
in the northwest and the consequent
coal famine in North Dakota have
been determined by the members of
the interstate commerce commission
participating in the recent hearings at
Chicago and Minneapolis Franklin
K. Lane, who served as chairman of
the Investigating commission, We'd
nesday filed his report with the full
commission and sent it to President
Roosevelt, who ordered the inquiry.
Mr.. Lane finds:
1T is fair inference from all the
testimony that the real cause of the
coal scarcity in North Dakota was
such an abundance of westbound traf-
fic at the head of the lakes that cars
were not available in the congested
state of that terminal for the carrying
of coal to North Dakota compare
lively short haul for low class com
modify
In his letter of transmission to the
president, Mr.. Lane says that the re
port will be followed in due course
by the special recommendations of
the commission as whole as to what
ever legislation, if any, may be
deemed advisable
Coal Combine Not to Blame.
referring to the report that the
coal shortage was due to the pres
ence of trust or combination be-
tween dealers in coal who fixed prices
in the northwest, and refused to sell
to outsiders" and "irregulars, the
report says:
The commission has gained indis-
putable proof of an agreement be-
tween coal dealers to maintain prices
and to boycott all who do not do so
agree; but there is no evidence at all
Justifying the contention that this
combination is chargeable with the
coal shortage prevailing, nor that the
railroads were party in such way to
such conspiracy"
The report of the commissioner first
deals with the coal famine in North
Dakota and presents the conditions
OF distress found to have existed in
that state Consideration of pro-
posed remedies are dealt with extern
sively, particularly those which can
be effected by the railroads or the
shippers, as well as those including
the evils arising from the reconsign-
ment privilege, warehousing in cars
and from appropriation of cars by
foreign lines. The remedies which
the commission purposes to work out
deal with rules and legislation touch
Ing the matters complained of, as
well as a proposed plan for car
clearing house, or car pool and recip.
rocal car demurrage.
Suggestions of Remedy.
In considering the evidence taken.
Commissioner Lane says that plan
Tor proposed car clearing house or
car pool between connecting lines
is regarded with much favor The
details of such plan have not been
worked out Car appropriation be-
tween carriers is treated at some
length and the adoption of rule is
suggested fixing minimum of so
cents a day during those months of
the year when traffic is light and in
creasing this possibly fourfold dur
ing the latter half of the year when
cars are most needed
The most generally advocated rem
edy for the failure of carriers to fur
nish cars when demanded is known
as the reciprocal car demurrage. This
phrase means. in word, that carri-
ers shall be penalized upon failure to
furnish cars demanded.