The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-08-08
COAL

To our customers and others inter-
ested in HARD COAL supply for the
coming season:
!" We feel that the public is entitled
to a word from the dealers in regard
to the coal situation, and more espec-
tally Hard or Anthracite.
It has been continually impressed
upon the users of coal by the Fuel Ad-
ministration that they should make
their declaration for their years. sup
ply of coal, and to secure the same at
an eafly date, so as to avoid an i'm
minent FUEL famine.
We feel that the consumers have
done their duty to some extent, and
are waiting for a supply of HARD
COAL before securing any of the
soft variety. Right here is where all
of our difficulties begin; the State
Fuel Administrator, Mr.. Isaac P. Bak-
er of Bismarck has taken the order
ing of HARD COAL out of the Retail
Dealers hands, and it must now be
ordered through Mr.. Bakers office.
All Retail Coal Dealers have placed
blanket order with the State Fuel
A Administration for their seasons re-
quirements of HARD COAL. Last
season, North Dakota consumed ap-
proximately 250,000 tons of Hard
Coal (Anthracite) and the National
Fuel Administration has apportioned
100000 tons for North Dakota this
season, or, about 80 per cent of the
amount shipped to the state last wear.
SO according to this apportionment,
each consumer should receive before
the season is over, about 80 per cent
OF what he received, or should have
received according to the National
Fuel Administrations estimates.
We feel at the present time that.
we are not getting our pro-rata share
OF what is allotted to this state. as
Mr.. Baker our State Fuel Admins
traitor says that it is supplying the
branch lines first, so that thew will
have some hard coal, in the case Of a
possible snow blockade early in the
season. However-we will have to
rest on our oars, and wait for Mr..
Baker to distribute the Hard Coal as
he chooses. - ' 80
In order to relieve the coal dealers
OF some of their troubles, and present
to the consumers the position onr
State Fuel Administration takes. and
what he advocates, we publish here-
with our recent letter to him. and his
reply: A A''
=, Valley City, July %, 1913.
onlted States Fuel Administration,
It. Bismarck, N. D.
Gentlemen-On July the 18Th Won
notified us that you had on Julv The
9Th directed to us 200 tons of "Stova"
and 90 tons of "Pea". This order has
not been confirmed to date bv anv
DOCK company. Wish you would fol,
low up this order. The public is bor.
ing US to distraction almost. for Hard
Goal. Our farmers tell US that Tho
side: tracks around Valley City arc
getting about as much "Nut' coal as
the city is getting. 80
Yours truly, 81.
The Farmers Cooperative Elev. Co.
V ]. N. S. Thomson, Mgr.
Mr.. Bakers reply follows:
Farmers ne Coop. Elev. Co., Valley City,
:" ND. ,.-H
Dear Sirs: It is suggested that von
furnish Ignite to the domestic con-
sumers who are boring you to dis
traction; shipments of Anthracite will
o ., made to you in the due course of
distribution. - - -
Yours truly, r
Benton Baker, Executive Sec. g..
Bismarck, N. Oak.
In conclusion we wish to state that
n the distribution Of Hard Coal. we
IRE following strictly the rules and
equation furnished US by the Admin
stration. To the effect that we are
o deliver two-thirds of consumers
requirements on the orders consec-
ltively as they were given to us. We
ave had consumers foam because we
lid not deliver their Hard Coal. when
here were probably 100 orders ahead
i theirs, and would say to us: "Isn't
ny money as good as somebody
Uses" We are not, and don't be-
leve the other dealers are passing
by, without notifying the
lext one in line, that we are ready to
leliver their quota.
We wish to state that, if the people
+ this community want Hard Coal
more promptly than they are getting