The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-27
/. &C. STATISTICS
DO NOT SHOW ANY
REAL DANGER OF
COAL SHORTAGE
Senator McCumber Sends
Forum Statement of
Steps Being Taken
PRIORITY ORDER TO
SOLVE DIFFICULTY
Nearly Half of the Supply
Needed Had Been Ship
ped on August IL

/ That the northwest need not fea.
a fuel shortage Is the inference Il
be drawn from a fetter from tns
1 Interstate Commerce Commisston, HI
Sen. p. j. McCumber, and FORWARDED
BY him to The Fargo Forum.
The needs of the northwest were
placed at 29.000,000 tons. Up to Aug
IL, l2,000,0O0 tons had been shipped
according to the letter. Navigatid
had then been open about three
months. The navigation season runs
until the end of November. giving i
three and a half months from Aug
IL. With the priority order issue
by Judge Lovett it Is believed that
this amount can be handled witho1a
difficulty, as ii means but vei9
slight increase over the present ratS
The letter to Senator McCumhel
follows:
'sHon P. ]. Mccunber,
United States Senate,
Washington, d. G.
Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter OF Aug.
20, 1917, addressed to the Interstate
Commerce Commission with referen1e
to the fuel situation in the north
west;
This subject has been receiving
very close attention from both this
commission and the carriers war
board or executive committee. "a
number of conferences have been
held with the commission in charge
of the Lake Erie coal pool and the
coal operators involved, as well As
with representatives OF the public
and the dock people from the head of
the lakes. As result Of this work
the matter has finally ended up In
Monday under which N has been ar-
ranged to furnish coal mines for
which are ordered cars for loading
with bituminous coal for Lake Erie
ports for transshipment to northern
lake ports, preferential car sup
ply. Earlier in the season il was
regularly represented that a total Of
26,000,000 tons of bituminous coal
shipped via the lakes would meet, all
requirements, and this only called
Tor an average CT 100000 tons per
week. A few days ago. however, this
estfEnate was Creased to 2a. .0a0 go
TORS. and as but IL, ,BUU, go tons had
been shipped as of Aug. IL Git will be
remembered that navigation opened
several weeks late this year, this
increased the weekly requirements
to something over 100000 tons. The
ports west of Cleveland have been
operated at about their maximum
capacity, but those at Cleveland and
east have been operating below such
maximum as a result OF much less
than the usual shipments being made
to those ports for the Number Eight,
the Pittsburgh, and the Fairmont
districts due to various reasons which
we will not impose upon your time
by reciting.
1T is expected that the priority
order issued by Judge Lovett as the
presidents representative under the
priority law, carrying as IL does
car supply for lake ports,
will solve the difficulty satisfactor-
lily. 1t might he mentioned IN clos
ing that there has been considerable
increase in shipments northwest by
rail from Illinois,, the last figures
showing some 100000 tons to Aug. /,
as against 100000 tons for the same |
period in 1916.
Should you desire to have any OF |
the above information in greater de-
tail it will be a pleasure to supply |
same upon advice.
Very truly yours,
Interstate Commerce Commission"