The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-01-05
COAL famine CAUSES
INTERSTATE COMnIsSIONfRsGIVE
REPORT TO PRESIDENT.
Principal Reason for Conditions
in North Dakota Was Prefer
ence for Other Freight--Car
Clearing House and Recipro-
cal Demurrage.

S0A ASuuEIa&Cs
Washington, Jan. 3.-The causes
but not the cure for the car shortage
in then orthwest, 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 in estigation commission, has filed
his report with the full commission
and sent to President Roosevelt, who
ordered the inquiry. He finds:
''It is q fair inference from all the
testimony that the real cause Of the
coal scarcity in North Dakota was
such an abundance of westbound
traffic at the head of the lakes that
cars we're not available in the longest
ed state of that terminal, for the car
rying of coal to North Dakota-a COM
paratively short haul for a low class
commodity"
In his letter Of transmission to the
president, Mr.. Lane says the report
will be followed in due course by
special recommendations of the com
mission as whole as to what legisla-
ton, if any, may be deemed advisable.
Coal Dealers Combine
Referring to the report that the
coal shortage was due to the presence
of a trust or combination between
dealers in coal which fixed prices in
North Dakota and refused to sell to
outsiders and ''irregulars'' the report
says that while the commission has
gained indisputable evidence Of an
agreement between coal dealers to
maintain prices and to boycott all
who do not so agree, there is no evi
dence justifying the conclusion that
the combination is chargeable with
the coal shortage, nor that the rail
roads wer party in such way to
such conspiracy.
The remedies which he commits
sioners propose to work out include
proposal for car clearing house or
car pool and reciprocal Car demurrage.
Clearing House Plan
In considering the evidence taken
Commissioner Lane says that plan
for proposed car clearing house or a
Car pool between connecting lines is
regarded with much favor. The de.
tails Of suoh plan have not been
worked out. Car appropriation be-
tween carriers is treated at some
length, and the adoption Of rule is
suggested fixing a minimum Of 90
cents day during those months Of
the year when traffic is light and in.
creasing this possibly four fold during
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 reciprocal car demurrage. This
phrase means, in word, that carriers
shall be penalized on failure to fur
nish cars demanded, and it arises out
of the universal railroad practice i'm
posing per diem penalty when a Car
is held by consignee for unloading
beyond certain number of days.
The commissioner says this plan
alone would not overcome the princi-
pal dicfhulties, but merely provide for
punishment of the railroad for non
placing of cars or for non-movement
thereof.
Mr.. Lane, in his report, Gums up til
opinion of the commissioners in the fol.
lowing:
Causes of Shortage
''The problem is much deeper and
much broader than q mere lack of cars
and engines. 1t is one in which is
involved every factor in railroading.
the construction, operating, main
tenance and financing of the railroad.
The inability of the shipper to secure
a car may be only symptomof a deep
seated and organic trouble.
1.-THE real cause Of the Car shortage
may be in the too conservative char
acter of tho management of the road,
or in the uni1tness and incompetency
Of its operating officials. 1t may fol-
low from an incomprehension on the
part of directors Of the full duty i'm
posed by law on q common carrier.
It may arise out of q policy in railroad
operation which gives primary consid-
Grafton to speculative stock oper atoms.
It may come from an inability to se-
cure funds so to fit itself that it can
discharge its duty. It may follow in
a time of exceptional prosperity from
an increase in traffic which could not
officially be prevented. It may arise
from an inability to secure labor and
materials necessary to the proper en-
larging of the railroads facilities.