Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-12-23
WHAT IS
THE MATTER?
''MGGER IN THE WOOD PILE
HAS IRANLED INTO THE
COAL BIN SAYS WRITER.
To the Editor:

thunder back the stere0typed an
swer: shes all rightl' And th'
answer, though not far wrong, j
not altogether right. Idaho is goo,
and great in some things. in man.
things, but not in all. fear her pa
triotic populace is too intently adj
/ miring her good qualities to be abb,
to discern her faults. Like al
true-blue Americans her people are
patriots, and patriotism is made VI
of love Of country. Love is not q
good light by which to see faults
Ii would rather hide them. Some
times. therefore, fancy, people
may become too patriotic for the
good of a state. Better be less pa
triotic with a keener, clearer vision
in detecting wrongs and steadler
nerve in correcting them.
In a recent issue Of the Journal,
we are told how greatly conditions
have been improved by the legal
battle conducted by the League OF
Southern Idaho Commercial Clubs
against the Oregon Short Line for
lower rate on coal shipments.
Conditions improved! Heaven save
the mark What then, were these
conditions before the improvement
came? We are paying eight dollars
ton for soft coal at the railroad
stations. This coal comes from
Rock Springs, Wyoming, about a.
3OO-mile haul. The price OF coal at
he mines is about two dollars per
ton. | am not advised as to the eX-
act cost Of producing coal at the
mines in Wyoming. Several years
of active and intimate connection
IN mine operating have given me
some knowledge of the business.
The rate paid the miner per ton Is
about One-half the total cost. Eighty
cents for the miner and another
eighty cents for all sundry expense;
thus making the total cost S1.oO per
ION. is not far wrong. Two dollars
per ton as a selling price at the
mine yields a very good profit TO
the mine operator. And yet 800
miles away this 2-dollar coal costs
The consumer EIGHT DOLLARSl
What's the matter with ldaho2
Verify. she is not quite right. Some
hing is little wrong. If the rail-
road and the local dealer must con-
niue TO tax the consumer six dol
airs per ton for soft coal, then let
heaven protect and nOuurish our
;age-brush fuel.
AT Missouri river points, as Oma-
Ia. Sioux City, Council Bluffs, st.
Toe. AtchisOn, Leavenworth, Kan
las City, etc, the happy people OF
hat peaceful valley burn hard coal
rom the Pennsylvania mines, a
RAUL of more than three times as
ong as this, at a less cost per ton
han the Idaho consumer pays for
lis soft coal. And this interesting {
act repeats the query: What ; l
he matter with Idaho?'
In the report of the commission
r of immigration, labor and statls-
les, state of IGihc. 1907 and 1908, a
book of 3lS pages. fifteen lines are b
evoted to the greatest OF all MN e
~ Industries of coal. Here h
what Commissioner Allen Miller c
lys of Idaho coal: Il
We have not advices as to the &
Of coal mined and market C
/ in the Stale. The mines III Teton q
asin furnish fuel consumed by the g
eighborhcod and market small
Quantities in the town Of st. An ;
lony. which is transported by wa h
On. distance Of forty miles. The 81
ines near Salmon City continue
furnish most of the residents of
lat town with coal for domestic n
SEES. and those recently opened N
,ar Gordon City furnish a few Il
miles with household fuel They
e all three, not only hampered :,
r lack of railroad facilities, but at v
e same time have to compete with
e forest, which is practically as
ose to each community as are the
ines, and fire-wood may be had
r the cutting and hauling. The
.al product of the state will con- ~
Tue to be a negligible quantity, N
It'll the railroads open up a mar Pr
t." III
This shows a great neglect Of a w
eat industry Hitherto the sparse sa
,pulation was almost entirely bead q'
. its energies in mining the pre- w
Jus metals. Nobody seemed to W.
caring or looking for coal. for OF
lich there was practically no de- III
and, and mines were not develop al
What little was needed was
ought into the state by the rail- an
!