The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-03-26
Detroit Mayor ExpIains.

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HI Detroit Mayor Explains.
George. d. Hamilton. mayor OF De-
troit, Mihn.. told Of his experience
when the coal shortage in February
became threatening He went to
an experiment he purchased three
carloads Of Ignite and had two ship
ped to Detroit, one for use in the
city lighting plant and one for private
consumers and the third car for Lake
Park. The Ignite was fresh from the
mine and was frozen solid when it
reached Detroit in a temperature Of
so degrees below zero. A careful
| test made at the lighting plant show
ed that a reduction in cost of 70
cents a ton was necessary to put it
on an equal footing with Illinois coal
| as a steam producer. The cost Of
the Ignite laid down at the Detroit
plant was $5.4S and Of eastern
bituminous coal $3.50. The Ignite
cost 1925 at the mine: freight 1886;
war tax 8 cents, and drayage so
cents, making the total $5.4S. While
/ the freight rate from Beulah, N. D.,
/ to Detroit Is $265 a ton 1t Is only
$1.16 from the mine to Fargo so the
cost of hauling the last AZ miles Is
| $1.49.
Mr.. Hamilton said the price to local
/ consumers on present rates is about
| S6.25 a ton: and about $50 tons were
! used at Detroit at that price. II the
| freight rate is reduced to bring the
Dakota product into competition with
eastern coal he thought there would
be used in Detroit alone from S,Oc2
TO 10000 tons; and this should help
during the coal shortage. Another
point in favor Of the use of Ignite Is
getting rid of the smoke nuisance.
Ignite Demand Growing.
Commissioner Sweet, of South Da-
kota, said that experiments with
Ignite in that state had proven quite
satisfactory. The consumers are not
equipped for it's exclusive use but
there is a substantial and growing
demand for Ignite in South Dakota.
While it cannot take the place Of
anthracite or bituminous, he said, 1t
has such value that its use as ex-
tensively as possible should be en-
couraged under present conditions.
]. G. Thompson of Aberdeen, told |
Of the use Of Ignite at various points |
in South Dakota and said it had been
found to be satisfactory; but the |
freight rates prohibit its use in com |
petition with Illinois and Iowa btu
minous.
Old Rate Cancelled.
J. A. Little, the rate expert of the |
North Dakota commission, said the /
rate Of 50 ton from Kenmare to /
Minneapolis was cancelled on Dec.
20, 1915. At that time the rate to |
Moorhead was $1.42 as compared with
the present rate of S2.62. He also
said that prior to Oct. 1910, there
were materially lower rates to Red
river valley points in Minnesota. The
rate to the twin cities was in force
at that time over the 500 line and to
the intermediate points in Minnesota
over the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern.
Chairman Ira B. Mills who has
been a member of thee Minnesota
commission, com except one year, since
1888, said the first appeal to the L
board for lower rates by Minnesota L
people came last fail. At that time
Warren, Argyle and other points /
north Of Crookston asked for an ex-
tension Of the North Dakota rates.
He took the matter up with the Great /
Northern but no rates were made |
that would bring the Ignite into
competition with wood and eastern
coal.
Miners Should Be Given Chance.
Il did not give the matter much |
attention, said Judge Mills, until / i
met NNayOE LAdALA4AluIl Oh. .DGlFOlL ana
learned Of his experience with lig- /
mite. There is no reason why the /
railroads should not give the Ignite |
miners chance to develop their /
mines. North Dakota should have
this opportunity, especially at this l
time when it is doubtful IL we viii /
be able to get coal from the east
Judge Mills also read a letter from l
Elmer p. Adams, of Fergus Falls,
who was unable to attend the confer Il