The Dickinson press., 1915-09-11
SATISFACTORY ADJUSTMENT
Ignite COAL RATES

The coal mine operators of the
western part of the state are we'll
pleased with the adjustment of coal
rates Those who attended the con-
ference at Bismarck on September 4
declare that the state railroad memb-
ers, Messrs. Stutsman, Mann and
Anderson, did everything in their
power to make the rates equitable to
all parties and suited to all sections
of the state to the end that the native
coal industry of North Dakota may
develop more rapidly in the future
than it has in the past. This means
that the vast deposits of Ignite coal
in the western part of the state and
now come into successful competition
with other Goals in the eastern part
of the state.
This is what the Bismarck Tribune
said of the conference which happily
brings to an end the coal rate itiga-
tion Of the past several years:
"It was we'll satisfied crowd of
railroad men, coal men and railroad
commissioners who concluded their
labors this morning at o'clock at
the Mckenzie hotel and there were
congratulations and good feeling all
around over the conclusion Of an H.
hour session on coal rates. There
was good reason for this because a
solution of the Ignite coal rate stu
alton had been reached and all inter-
ests brought together in satisfac-
tory basis for transporting coal to all
parts of the state at figure profitable
to the miners and reasonable to the
consumer.
ut will be remembered there were
some issues in the proposed Ignite
coal rate recently promulgated by the
railroad commission unsatisfactory to
the carriers and miners and as re-
suit of representations that it was
possible to reach a more satisfactory
basis by another hearing in the mat
ter, this meeting was arranged and
all concerned feel gratified over the
result.
"The hearing began yesterday
afternoon in the senate chamber at
the capitol and was not adjourned un-
til after seven o'clock, when an ad-
journment was taken for supper. At
$3.50 p. M, the hearing was resumed
in the parlors of the Mckenzie hotel
and when final adjournment came all
the troubles had been ironed out.
Throughout the two sessions spirit
of give. and take prevailed and the
new rate, which will soon be promul-
gated and put into effect, will permit
competition by all the mines in the
state in all the markets now devel-
oped, will encourage the growth of the
mining industry and tend to develop
the coal business in new territory.
Under the decision of the United
States court there was bound to be
an increase in the Ignite coal rate,
but the railroad commission and 9th
ers, present at the hearing believe this
has been achieved in such way as
to be hardly appreciable to the con-
| sumer.
Besides the railroad commissioners
there were present at the hearing the
following coal operators and railroad
men:
Operators: President Truelson,
Vive President EvSmith and Manager
Deiters of the Dakota Ignite Mines
Co., Dickinson; H. J. Blanchard. rep
| resenting the Consolidated Coal Co.,
Dickinson; John Satterlund, Wash
burn; w. P. Macomber, Washhurn
Coal Co., Wilton; E. M. Traux, Moo
nan; H. A. Gray, New Salem; H. E.
Soule, of National Briquetting Co.,
Kenmare; N. D. Nichols and r. Zim-
norman, Medora.
Railroad men: Northern Pacific
was represented by Vice President
and Traffic Manager Woodworth, Cen
eral Manager Rapelje, General Supt.
Nichols, Supt. Maintenance and Way,
Burt, Supt. Employment Bureau John
| son, Freight Claim Agent Horrigan,
Division Supt. Berner, Asst. General
Freight Agent Burnham, Asst. Cen
eral Freight Agent Capron, T. K.
Young, chief clerk to Mr.. Nichols.
The 500 line was represented by Vice
President and Traffic Manager Mar
tin. The Great Northern by Assistant
General Freight Agent Brown"