The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-09
NORTHWESTERN
LIGNITE MINES
PROTEST PRICE
Assure Fuel Administrator Baker
That So the Ton Is Not
Enough.
OFFER PROPERTIES TO U. s.

Minot, N. D., Jan. 9.-The northwest
ern district of the North Dakota Lig,
mite Operators, association after long
session in which they looked up
the reduction of price of fifty cents
per ton for Ignite decided to ask for
a hearing at which they will submit
evidence Of the impossibility of rum
ming their mines at less than SO per
ton on the car at the mine at the
present cost of mining.
They claim that during the last
year the cost of timbers has increased
80 per, cent, steel tracks and tools
over 100 per cent. and labor so per
cent. All operators claim they are not
getting profits Of former years at the
present high price and that the new
price of $3.50 will cause them to shut
their mines down. ..
They will have a hearing at Bis
marck by petition Jan. IA before Ad-
ministrator l. P. Eaker, and will ask
for a reinstatement of the SO price for
this part of the state.
They claim that the coal is more eX-
pensive to dig in the northwestern
part of the state than in the southern
part because of soft roof, water, thin
veins and other reasons Of similar
nature.
E. f. Devol presided at the meeting
which closed by authorizing Chairman
Dorr H. Carroll of the Council of De.
fense to offer the use of the mines to
the government for the period of the
war and for at least one year for any
equitable compensation to be determ.
ined by H. A. Garfield the federal ad-
ministrator The operators represent.
ed a potential output of 5000 tons,
worth $4,000 per day.
The Truax Mining Co., at Noonan
and the Kenmare Mining & Briquet-
ting Co., of Kenmare are principal oh.
jectors to the price of $3.50 the ton at
the mouth of the mine for Ignite
lump, advised Capt. l. P. Baker, fuel
administrator for North Dakota, this
morning Both of these companies
claim they cannot mine coal at a
profit for less than So the ton. Chair.
man Carroll of the defense council set
these contentious before the federal
fuel administrator several days ago,
and it was suggested to him that the
mine operators meet and formulate
their objections. January IA is date
apparently agreed upon by them for
the submission of their petitions, but
the fuel administrator has not been
consulted as to the possibility of a
hearing on this date.
The price of $3.50 per ton at the
mine for North Dakota Ignite was fix
ed after a careful survey of reports
and suggestions filed by members OF
the advisory board in every district
and county in the state. The con-
census of opinion was that $3.50 would
be a fair price for everyone concern.
ed. The price was fifty cents higher
than had been charged by some mines,
and fifty cents lower than had been
asked by others. The Washburn Zig.
mite Coal Co. of Wilton, the states
largest producer of Ignite, had been
charging $3.50 per ton at the mouth
of the mine for the last year, and the
price of it's produce to the consumer
is not changed.
Federal Fuel Administrator Baker
doubts if the government for the pres
ent at least will find itself in posi-
tion to accept the mine operators pro.
posal to take over their properties and
operate them, somewhat in the same
manner as Uncle Sam is now running
the railways. 1t is conceded that this
may come ultimately.