The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-07-31

Inc dDONe iCpl CoOHI tAC
spinion of some of the coal dealers OF
this city, and as the Times reporter
was unable to see all of them, the
names of those interviewed are omit
ted. The opinion of these men is that
the situation is serious or liable to
become so. The man who said that
his company had 5000 tons last year in
storage declared that coal was coming
in steadily right along then, whereas
it comes in slowly now, although some
is received here from day to day, but
not enough all told to supply thresh-
ers, hence he urged the necessity of
the installation of straw burners. 1t
is stated that two tons of straw will
supply the largest engine and that
the idea that it is necessary to burn
up all the straw in order to thresh
the wheat is erroneous. He stated,
however, that should the d. & r. 6.
be required to place the embargo on
through freight, the situation would
be greatly relieved in very short
time and would eventually be com
pletely cured. He said that last year,
while they ordered 5000 tons of coal
they got but 5000 and because other
dealers got only about the same pro-
was on the verge of a coal famine for
a long time. This year they ordered
early and increased their order by
2o0e tons, but, as far as the storage
was concerned, they got only prom
ises. Six thousand tons means 200
\ cars, and as other dealers are at least
Nretty nearly as short relatively, con-
sidering the size of their orders, the
I, &c olr I %
insisted strenuously on the necessity
of everyone and every organization
taking the matter up at once with the
state public utilities commission and
the war council, and not leaving it for
somebody else to do it. He insisted
Wyoming could not supply the needs
Of the tract.
In support of the contention that
action must be taken and that the So
lntion offered is the correct one, the
dealer produced the following letter,
sent July rs, by the Cameron Coal
company, the Independent Coal &
Coke company, the Spring Canyon
Coal company and the Standard Coal
eompany TO the interstate commerce
commission .and to Daniel Willard,
chairman, and Fairfax Harrison, sec
council OF national defense at Wash
iRgton:
An alarming shortage of fuel is
impending in Utah and the Pacific
coast states dependent upon the coal
mines of Utah for their supply. a
fuel famine of unprecedented magni-
tude is nearly upon us and will fol
low unless quick and radical action
-. r1..ff no q % mi u
The coal mines of Utah are wholly
dependent upon the Denver and Rlc
Crande Railroad company for trans
Dortation facilities. This railroad
company is in a deplorable physical
and financial condition. Owing to It's
condition it has not been able to give
the mines more than about gu pei
cent service. It's operations have beer
- further embarrassed recently by the
sreaking of a large irrigation reser
voir, the waters from which washed
away large section of its double
track and many bridges between Col
TON and Helper, Utah, causing com
pIete suspension of all traffic 10
about three weeks. 1t is now operat
ing but a single track and 1t Will b'
several weeks before it is able to serv'
the coal mines more than thirty-flV'
o. forty per cent Of their require
Hents.
The shortage of power and cars OF
the Denver and Rio Grande, the clos
ing of all operations at the mines be
cause of the flood conditions mention
ed and the congestion of througl
freight business beyond its physica
capacity to handle the same is par
alyzing the coal mining industries O
this state and is rapidly destroyln
eur labor organizations which unde
srdinary conditions are very difficul
to maintain.
The domestic consumers, the mines
snelters, sugar factories and stear
threshing outfits dependent upon 10