The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-09-02
Ignite DEALERS AND
MINERS ORGANIZE
MORE UNIFORM METHODS FOR
HANDLING COAL - UNIFORM
PRICES - WILL GIVE CLOSER
ATTENTION TO CREDITS.

orators thruOut this section have ef-
fected an organization for the pur-
pose of perfecting uniform methods
of service and sale of coal and to pro-
vide a means whereby they may have
some system to guide them in extend
ing credit. Only operators and such
dealers as have recognized standing
and proper equipment and places of
business are qualified for member
ship. According to the plans in vogue
in the past, any one with team of
horses and wagon who could induce
some operator to consign him a car
load Of coal would come into the mar
ket and demoralize the trade, and
then drop out. Such conditions will
not be tolerated under the new ar
rangement. The matter of shipments
on consignment will be carefully safe
guarded and the prospects are that
the operators will no longer be oblig-
ed to whistle for their money, as has
happened in so many instances in the
past With organization, any one
wishing to handle coal must establish
a permanent place of business before
he will be recognized by the operators
as entitled to credit. Those not COM
ing uIlucI LIllS CldSSlICdtioll dlS iiOt
entitled to membership.
It is a generally recognized fact
that the operators and dealers have
been doing business at a loss for sew
eral seasons past. The establishment
of so many new mines has stimulated
competition to such an extent that
the margin of profit has been elimi-
mated. Many of the mines are car
rying hundreds of accounts whose
value is questionable and the Ignite
industry, upon which so much depends
in the way of holding prices on east
ern coal within bounds, is languishing
and some such measure as the operat-
ors and retailers have now taken is
necessary to place the Ignite mining
industry upon a safe and profitable
basis. The dealers are justified in do
ing away with the peddling of coal by
parties of no financial responsibility
who simply came into the market
when the demand was brisk while
they are obliged to maintain their
places during the entire year, some
months at distinct loss.
The present freight schedule on coal
works to the detriment of the great
Ignite mining industry Of the state
and gives the eastern operators and
shippers the advantage. Some Of our
operators are obliged to pay freight
rate of as high as 1920 per ton on
shipments within the confines OF the
state, while the eastern people can
ship to the same points from the head
of the lakes for but 1918 per ton.
This particular section of the state
is especially favored in having their
fuel supply so close at hand. Fargo
and the Red river valley section con-
slider $3.50 per ton for Ignite very
reasonable.
AS the people generally come to use
Ignite more in their furnaces and
cooking ranges the demand for the
high priced eastern coal will diminish
appreciably and the Ignite mining in.
dustry will assume an Importance and
standing such as it merits. Those
who have used Ignite for any consid-
cradle length of time seldom If ever
. 20 back to the use Of eastern coal,
maintaining greater fuel economy can
be gained from the use OF Ignite.
| The new organization includes ev-
cry operator and dealer Of standing
in this section of the state and it will
soon inaugurate an educational cam
paign to teach the public the economy
effected in the use Of Ignite in addi-
ton to the fact that by so doing they
will be patronizing home industry
which has been the means Of holding
the price of the eastern product to its
present level.
The officers of the Association are
Charles Daugherty Of the Dauhgerty
Coal Co., Noonan, presidents; George
E. Mcclure of the Mcclure Coal Co.,
secretary, and Dan Bowker, Of the
firm of Wallace & Bowker, coal deal
ers, treasurer.