The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-03

COAL IS
Big HELP
Western North Dakota
Cities Fear No "Coal
Shortage"

WiEliston, n. D., Jan. 3.-When the
mercury threatens to fall out of the
bottom of the thermometer and the
wind whistles mournfuIly around the
corners. the average citizen living in
some other locality than western
North Dakota. gianees ~apprehensfvely
at his coal bin and calls up his coal
man to learn how many days the sup
ply Of coal on hand will keep the.
community from freezing. Then the
newspapers print their standing story
Of the coal shortage.
In western North Dakota in gen.
eral, and in Wilhston in particular,
we do things differently. We don't
lay in any years supply Of coal at a
time. and when the mercury drops and
the winds become brlsher,' IL the coal
bin shows signs OF depletion 1t is very
easy to put in an order for coal and
have it delivered in, a few hours, a
day at most.
A Home Industry.
And while other communities are
suffering the terrors of a threatened
coal shortage, and sending their cash
to the eastern coal barons and pay
ing it out in freight rates to the rail-
roads, Williston goes quietly along
using its coal money to support
local industry representing more than
100000 a year and giving employ
ment to nearly 100 men during the
winter season. E.....
Ignite coal is one of wilIiston's
best assets. Because of it close to
100000 a year which would other.
wise be spent away from home is
spent at home and the greatest por-
ton goes for labor, remaining in the
local channels Of trade and making
business. just that much better.
Use 200 Tons Daily.
According to local coal mine opera
tors. nearly 200 tons of coal a day is
needed to supply the Williston de-
mand alone during the coolest wealth
er. At $500 per ton this represents
daily coal bill for the city of $500
or more than $4,000 per week. And
il Williston burned eastern coal or
Montana or Wyoming coal, it's week.
ly coal bill would probably be con-
siderably more than that. '
To supply the demand for Ignite,
total OF so coal miners are employ
ed in the mines in the vicinity of the
city not including the government
owned mine at the Reclamation power
plant where the icity's electrical cur
rent is generated. Haulers and other
helpers bring the, total number en-
ployed by the local mining industry
to approximately 100 men and 40 or
so teams.
Ship Coal, Too. 1913
And the work of the local mines is
not limited to- supplying the local de-.
mand. Previous to the beginning of
the present cold spell last week, the
local mines had shipped approximate
ly $50 carloads OF coal to, other COM
munities in the eastern part Of the
state. OF course the cash received for
this coal is largely paid out for the
labor of mining and hauling and thus
the local Coal industry not only keeps
Williston money at home. but man
ages to coax, in some money from
other sections to aid sin keeping the
local trade channels well creased:
The local coal industry is making
a substantial growth from year. to
year, according to the operators. The
local demand is distinctly larger this
season, they declare, and the shipping
Of Ignite is increasing each season
as the eastern Goals become scarcer
and higher priced