The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-28
RAIL BOARD To
ASK REDUCTION .
IN COAL RATES
Will Rely Upon Patriotism of
Great Northern and 500 to
Bring Cheaper Fuel l.,
NORTHERN PACIFIC NOW '
HAS REASONABLE TARIFF
Wyoming Product Being Hauled
As Far West as Wadena,
MINI, at Low Cost

The North Dakota railway commits.
sion will appeal to the federal fuel
administration and to- Judge Lovett,
recently appointed director of rail
traffic, and to officials OF the two rail-
way companies, for lower rates on
Wyoming coal to Great Northern and
500 line points in order that North
Dakota consumers who find it i'm
possible to obtain eastern coal may
purchase the Wyoming fuel at a rea.
sonable price. Low through rates al.
ready are in effect from the Wyoming
fields to Northern Pacific points as far
east as Wadena, Mimi, but neither
the 500 line nor the Great Northern
has to date made any concessions.
Early Action Important.
1--WE do not feel that lower rates on
Wyoming coal will in any way ad-
.versely affect the market for native
Ignite" announced the commission
this morning Our own mines are
not prepared to supply all of the
North Dakota consumers who hereto.
fore have depended on eastern Goals.
The eastern coal will not be obtain
able, according to our advices from
the head Of the lakes, and North Da-
kota is included in the northwestern
districts which has been assigned the
Wyoming fields as a source of supply.
Inasmuch as it is positive that large
share of our people must depend upon
Wyoming coal, it is important that
they be enabled to buy this fuel with.
out paying exhorbitant freight rates.
"The Interstate commerce commits
sion in the South Dakota rate cases
recently ordered in cheaper through
rateg from the wyoming feds. It
undoubtedly would do the same thing.
with regard to Great Northern and
500 line territory in North Dakota,
but it might be two years before we
could get action through this body,
and relief is necessary at once. There
fore we are going to depend largely
upon the patriotism of these two
roads, and the further fact that they
must realize they will lose vastly in
public esteem II they do not make
these concessions at time when
the interests of the country demand
them
"We are taking the matter IN
through the federal fuel administra-
tiOn and Judge Lovett, rail traffic d.
rector, because we feel they are best
in position to command prompt at
tention from the railway companies"
Plenty Of Coal.
One company, writing from the
Sheridan district, in plea for lower
rates on Wyoming coal, advises that
this region can produce 10000 to $1,000
tons daily. but that owing to unfavor-
able freight tariffs these properties
during the last summer, when other
coal fields were, producing more than
ever before, operated only three days
weekly and at only half capacity on
these days. The Sheridan mines claim
their coal can be successfully used in
lieu of anthracite and that it is Of
high efficiency, both for domestic base
burner or furnace consumption, and
in the production of steam
In 19Q2-'03 the producers advise the
North Dakota rail board, under emerg-
ency rates established by the rail-
ways, the Wyoming mines penetrated
as far east as Minneapolis and other
Minnesota. points. These rates re-
mained in effect, however, only during
the strike in the anthracite regions,
and when these troubles were set
tied, the old rates were restored, and
the Wyoming coal was frozen out.