Morris tribune., 1907-08-03
NO FUEL FAMINE WANTED.
Railroads Are Doing Their Best to
Avert lt.

Traffic officers of the Northern Pa
cific Railway have taken unique steps
towards avoiding possible coal shor-
tage in the Northwest this winter, by
utilizing the arrangements made fol
the advertising of passenger traffic
matters, in calling the attention Of
coal dealers and coal consumers
generally to the necessity of laying in
their winter stock of fuel at once.
Display advertising has never been
used by Northwestern railways for
such purpose.
The advertisements, which have
been sent to many newspapers on the
line of the Northern Pacific Railway,
state in terse and emphatic terms that
the best way to avoid coal shortage
is to buy early, and that at the present
time there is fuel at the head of the
lakes and empty cars with which to
move it. For the first time these ad-'
vertisements will take the place of
of publicity with reference to rates
and trains. The effect of the expert
ment, which is novel excursion into
the advertising field for railway, is
being watched with interest.
Railway officers fear if Northwest
ern dealers delay their orders for win
ter coal, such shipments will again fall
into the months when the Northwest
ern wheat crop is moving, and when
all the available equipment and motive
power of the railways is necessarily
employed in keeping the wheat NOV
ing and the lines clear of congestion.
A year ago this and other causes made
it extremely difficult to move coal.
The extremely severe weather which
suddenly descended on the Northwest
later practically stopped traffic for a
considerable period, and brought oh a
severe shortage of fuel.
All the leading Northwestern lines
are making efforts to secure an early
movement of coal from the head of
the lakes to all the various local
points, and their officers are anxious
to bring about a condition under
which before severe cold weather
comes again, both the consumers and
the dealers will be thoroughly advised
of the necessity of getting in their
supply of fuel we'll in advance, and
prompted to protect themselves
against the possibility of shortage
by having their winter fuel actually on
hand.
Northern Pacific traffic officers a
month ago took up the coal question
with the big fuel dock concerns at the
head of the lakes and asked them to
get into touch with their customers
and urge early delivery of winter coal.
Local dealers were reached by letter
and the danger of delaying their Or
ders to the fuel docks was pointed
out. The dealers have in many cases
replied that they will gladly lay in
early stocks of coal for the winter if
their consumers can be persuaded to
place their individual orders early, and
the railway is now seeking to interest
the individual consumers through the
medium of advertisements calling at
tention to the traffic problems which
will arise if the Northwest's orders for
coal from the head of the lakes do not
reach the fuel docks until the lines are
rushed to the limit with wheat ship
ments. None of the Northwestern
lines are anxious for another snow
blockade, and are making determined
effort to protect their territory against
the difficulties involved should the ad-
verse conditions of last winter again
prevail.
Farm Mortgage Loans.