Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-19

Moinee coal operators against the
eoaI situatIon In Iowa and de-
mandino a change In the Garfield
zone order.
Mr.. Ramseyer predicts that Gar
field will change tho order to per,
nit Iowa coal to be sniPPeo
throughout Iowa.
The miners Of Iowa have begun q
A1ht on the zone system inaugurateo
~ the fuel administration which cur
tails the territory in which coal mined
in Iowa may be sold, limiting the sell
ing field to only part of Iowa. AT the
same time it permits coal from I'LL
nois and other states to come into the
state and has set aside large part OF
the eastern portion of the state exclu-
siye for foreign coal, prohibiting the
sale of Iowa mined coal in that sec
ton. The same is true Of a large sec
ton of the northern part OF the state
and in the southwestern portion as
we'll, thus limiting coal from Iowa
mines to about two-thirds of the state.
MINERS ASK CLUBS AID
The Commercial club directors were
Addressed by officials Of the Mine
workers' union Of Bidwell last night
at the weekly supper and meeting.
president John Kincade and John
Davis Of the U. M. w. A. asked the as
eistance of the club in getting the busi-
ness men OF this vicinity to purchase
lows coal and to use their influence to
have the zone system changed or
abandoned, A committee was named
to take the matter up at once and IN
yestigate the conditions, taking such
action as 1t deems fit.
The two miners told Of the condi-
tions prevailing at Bidwell where the
mines have worked but two days since
last pay day. They urged that the zone
ixed April / for Iowa coal in the state
be changed, showing that with the
feld limited as it has been there Is
little prospect of regular work or nor.
NAL production.
The committee named to investigate
the coal situation is: O. D. Tisdale,
chairman: L. A. Andrew. j. j. Smith,
]. F. Weber, J. H. Morrell, F. W..
Sharp and H. Moschel.
orTUMWA is BOUNDARY LINE
The zone as fixed by the fuel admin
istration makes Ottumwa the boun-
Diary line for Iowa mined coal in the
eastern part of the state. The line
from Keokuk along the Rock Island
railroad to Ottumwa and thence along
the Milwaukee to Cedar Rapids, thence
via the Rock Island to Nora Junction
and on the Milwaukee to Mason City,
marks the end of the territory in Iowa
where coal mined in the state may be
sold, illinois, coal being given the sec
ton of the state east Of this line for
its exclusive market. Thus Bidwell or
Bear Creek coal mined at the door Of
OttumWa may not be sold at Agency,
Eldon, Fairfield or any other cities
within short distance Of this city de-
spite the fact that it is many miles
closer to Iowa mines than any other
coal fields.
sIDWELL SENDS MEN EAST
The Bidwell Coal Co. has had rep
resentative, l.. r. Rosebrook. in Wash
ington for the past two weeks striving
to have the conditions altered and the
zone changed in order to permit Iowa
mined coal freedom of all the state
Tor its market. H. H. Harris, head Of
THIS nrLn, SAID tOudy. oOluc progress
IL being made by Mr.. Rosebrook. but
the outcome is still in doubt as the
fuel administration is loath to change
rules once made"
START CAMPAIGN OF STATE
The appeal to the Commercial club
last night was not to restrict the sale
of foreign coal in Iowa, but instead to
remove the limits placed on Iowa
mined coal SO that it might be sold any
place within the state. Similar action
is being taken by the U. NJ. w. A.
with commercial clubs and business
mems organization throughout the
state in the hope that they will urge
the sale of Iowa coal in the entire
state and use it in preference to for
efgn coal.
MANY MINERS LEAVE STATE
The enforced idleness of coal mines
in southern Iowa since April ! is re-
sponsible for the departure from Iowa
mining centers of scores, perhaps hun
dreds, of mine workers According to