The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-25
LOWER iIE 3 RATES b 4. D.
FOR LIGNITE .
MAY BE ASKED
Conference at Fargo Tomorrow
to Have Important Effect
on Industry ''
REPRESENT THREE STATES
Minnesota, South Dakota and
North Dakota to Discuss
.>e' ~ Tariffs @ i'@S

| Fargo, y. d., March 25.--Railway
commissioners of Minnesota, North and
South Dakota. representatives Of the
fuel administrations Of these three
states. Ignite producers of North and
South Dakota and traffic officials OF
the Northern Pacific, Great Northern,
500 line, Milwaukee line and the Chi
! Cago L. Northwestern, are assembling
here for conference to be held to-
morrow to determine the ACCESSIBILITY
Of making joint application to the in
terstate commerce commission for
more favorable rates on Ignite from
North Dakota to South Dakota and
Minnesota points. "
The conference was called by the
North Dakota railway commission,
after consultation with the commits
sions Of South Dakota and Minnesota,
which expressed themselves as favor
ably disposed toward better Ignite
rates, in view of the fact that the
northwest during the coming fuel year
may be required to rely very largely
On this fuel An informal meeting of
the railway commissioners is being
held at the Waldorf hotel this after
noon, and program which the rail-
boards will suggest at the general
conference tomorrow is being formu-
lated. ..-.. t.s.
Old Rates Revoked -~ -,.~..
"A few years ago the 500 line had
In effect from kenmare and Wilton
Ignite mining districts through rate
of 5: to the Twin Cities. The rate
was Withdrawn when 1t was found
that It resulted In the movement of
little new business. Ignite then was
an unknown commodity to. the greater
part OF North Dakota and mystery
to the people on the other side of the
Red river. Today the value of Ignite
has become very generally appreciat'
ed throughout North Dakota, while
Minnesota cities as far east as Staples
have take advantage OF reduced thru
rates inaugurated by the Northern Pa
cific in 1917 and have learned to use
Ignite. o..
Ignite coal prices as regulated a.
the mines by the United States fuel
administration are $3.50 for selected
lump sizes, with gradually diminish
ing prices for, ruh-of-the. mine and
slack. At prevailing prices, under the
old 81 through rate to Minneapolis
and st. Paul, stove and furnace quail
ity Ignite could be laid down in the
Twin Cities at $3.50 the ton, which
is considerably cheaper than the poor
est grades of Illinois, Indiana and To-
wa bituminous can be had for.
~ Many New Mines.
Stimulated by the prospect OF an
increased consumption OF ignite, pro
duction in North Dakota outstripped
the demand, and while Minnesota shlv-
cred and shirked on heatless Mondays,
North Dakota Ignite mines were tore
ed to shut down for lack OF orders.
The state engineers office has just
completed survey of the Ignite in
dustry which, owing to the many new
mines in operation, consumed 1ull
month more than the same task dld
two years ago, when the total produc-
ton for the state was about a half
million tons.
Representatives of the North Dako-
ia ignite Producers association VINO
are here for the conference assert
there is no question as to the mines
ability to take care of an increaseed
demand from South Dakota and Min
nesota. South Dakota has few pro-
ducing Ignite mines, but their out
put is insignificant, and but: for loan
of anthracite from North Dakota, the
sister state to the south would have
suffered during the past winter. South
Dakota would draw on 500 line ano
Milwaukee line mining fields largely,
while every railway crossing the Dor
der into Minneapolis would have
dozen or more active mining districts
to draw upon. The largest Ignite
mine in North Dakota, the Washburn
Ignite, at Wilton. is located on both
the SEQ line and the Northern Pa
cific west of the river, ON the SOC
line all the way from Wilton to the
northern state line, and on the Great
Northern from Minot west. There are
scores OF places where with little or
no expense new mines could be open
ed by stripping and operated most
economically with steam shevels a.
trifling cost per ton. ...