Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-09-04

INutll tlltl ultcT ul.tt OT TOUR ull ne
sent telegram to Captain VIII Hal
lam, saying:
Give me a perfectly free hand here or
call me home. l must have all the au-
thority you possess o. can be OF no use
Answer by telegraph.
For response lIallam tclcgraphed;
Consider yourself the whole thing.
give you complete and absolute authority.
Hiro or discharge men at will. Order all
improvements you think best Draw on
the bank here for any sum you need.
Only make the thing go If you can
Thus armed Duncan set to work in
earnest.
"Why isn't your output of coal larger
than it ISL" he asked of Davidson. the
superintendent,
81 can't make 1t larger under the cir
curlstances."
"What are the circumstances? What
difficulties are che, 30. t.r aayt You
have miners cuou-. -s.:ely."
"Well, for one lin: the mine Is bad
" ventilated. Many of the best gal
leries are filed with choke damp and
must be kept cloSr
"Why don't you i.n.ro"e ;he voa.i!i-
ton: IS an cnGiuey you orgi 10
know how To do that much"
at isn't feasible as you would
know, Mr.. Duncan, If you knew my
thing about mining"
"Oh. never mind my ignorance! 1t
Is your knowledge thlt I'm concerned
about just now. DO understand you
10 sly that a mine lying only seventy
five feet or so below the surface can
not be ventilatcdY'
II suppose il III :,.t be II the bust
ness could afford the expense"
''1he business c:n and will afford
any expense that may be necessary
to make 1t pay. IL you know enough
Of engineering to devise practicable
plan for ventlating the mine I'll fur
nish you all the money you need to
carry 1t out"
He had 1t In mind to add, "lf You
don't know enough for that I'll find a
more competent engineer" but he kept
his temper and refralned.
"'Twouldn't be OF any USE" answer
ed Davidson after Il moment We're
producing more coal now than we can
market"
How Is that? | don't understand
Your order book-which l looked over
today-shows orders full month
ahead Of shipments. besides many can
celed ord1rs. countermanded because
not filled promptly enough to satisfy
the customers. You're superintendent
as well as engineer. | wish you'd try
to clear up this puzzle"
"Oh, it's simple enough! The rail-
road people won't furnish US cars
enough. I could ship a hundred car
loads tomorrow II had the cars. but I
haven't got 'em. and can't get 'em"
"Do you mean that you are Offering
coal Us freight 70 this railroad and
the road Is refusing IT.
Eyes. that's about it. I've asked for
cars and can't get 'em. except a few
each day"
do the other mines along this little
branch railroad have the same trou-
bieT'
There Is only one other mine on
this line"
swell. does 1t encounter the same
dimculty IN marketing its coalr'
"No-at least not TO 30 great an ex-
tent. You see somebody there IL
standing In with the railroad people.
! suppose they've had little block Of
stock given to them-the railroad peo-
pie. mean. So the Quentin mines
get all the cars they want. and we get
only their leavings.''
"Well, now, Mr.. Davidson. ! give
you this order: Bet to work at once
and bring out every ton OF coal you've
got ready In the mine. There'll be
cars here to haul It when you get It
ready. Good night, Mr. Davidson. III
talk with you another time about the
other matters. ! have a good deal to
do tonight. 10 ] can't talk further with
you now"
Davidson went out after q grudging
Good night" Duncan did not yet
know or suspect. though he was pres
emily to 6nd out. that to Davidson.
Also the proprietOrs OF the rival mine
were paying q Mttle tribute a. q re-
ward for silence and for making trou-
BILE.
Duncan sat for al hour writing let
tero. One OF them WAS addressed to
the general freight agent Of the little
railroad on whicl, the mine was Sit
uated It read a. follows:
Within sig days ! shall have 100 car
loads OF coal at the mouth OF this mine.
ready for shipment upon orders. After
that time ] shall have about sixty car
loads ready for shipment each day.
Please Sc 70 II that an adequate supply
Of cars to move this freight are Side
tracked here on time.
Duncan signed that letter with all
nesdeo circumspection. TIE signature
rad:
For the Redwood Coai and Iron COM
pAny. 0uilfosd Duncan. manager and At
tosnsy at law and In fact for the COM
pany.
That subscription was intended 40
an intimation.
Whsn on the nett afternoon die gen.
seal freight agent, who had several
times met Duncan at Captain Hal
= hospao rAaA Ako ln&&o, ut. >$so.