Baxter Springs news., 1918-04-26
CARS WILL NOT BE FUR
NISHED FOR HAULING.
MEXICAN ORE
BUY NOW FOR GOVT. NEEDS
viii Also Try to Induce Allies
to Lay In Supply Of Zinc at
Once-DelegatiOn On
Way Home

The committee Of Missouri-Kansas-
Oklahoma zinc mine operators who
have been in Washington for several
days conferring with government Of
ficials on matters pertaining to the
zinc market, started Wednesday on
their homeward trip. In the party
are o. W. Sparks, C. D. Smith, ]. x.
Underwood, C. H. Jaccard, Richard
Jenkins, ]. Stratton and p. A. Ewart.
The delegation has wired ahead
that their interviews in Washington
were very satisfactory. They express
the belief that an early improvement
in the market may confidently be ex-
pected.
The delegation learned that the
war industries board has requested
the United States government to place
orders as soon as possible for the
zinc it will need during the coming
wear in the manufacture of munitions.
This board also has recommended TO
the allies that they place orders for
zinc at once to as great an extent as
they feel justified by their needs for
the future. The order for our navy
department will be placed immediat-
ely and an order by the United States
army will be placed in the not dis
tant future, the time depending some
what upon the passage Of the army
appropriation bill by congress.
The other thing that encouraged
the committee of mine operators wa
the information obtained from the
war industrial board that, owing to
the great need of cars throughout the
country, cars which heretofore had
been used in the transportation Of
zinc from Mexico would be taken
from that business and used for the
hauling ,of coal and other cornmodi-
ties in the middle west.
The committee reached Washington
Monday noon and Immediately had
a conference with Representative Peri
D. Decker of Joplin, who placed him
self at the service of the committee
Interest Speaker Clark
Mr.. Decker and Representative
Campbell of Kansas at once enlisted
the interest of Speaker Champ Clark
and members of the Missouri, Okla
lhoma and Kansas delegations, and an
arrangement was made for a confer
ence Tuesday morning with Bernard
Baruch, chairman of the war indus
tries board. At this conference there
were present the committee OF mine
operators from the zinc district
Speaker Clark, Senator Owen, Sen
ator Thompson, Representatives Far
ris, Ruby, Igoe, Campbell, Chandler
and Decker.
At the beginning of the conference
Mr.. Baruch informed the committee
that he already had recommended to
the railway administration the dis
continuance of the use Of cars fol
the TRANSPORTATION of zinc from Mex
leo, and expects a final decision or
this question within a day or so. dc
assured the delegation that he is fully
awake to the serious situation thai
confronted the mine operators ano
assured them that the government
is very anxious that the mines be KEPT
running at a reasonable profit ant
that is has been a matter Of grea'
concern with him and that he stands
ready to do anything. reasonable
within his power to better the stu
alton. The subject was discussed
|, from every angle by different mem
l bers of the operators committee an'
, by different congressman present
Need Cars At Home
Speaker Clark said that he did no
know why cars were used to hau
zinc from Mexico into this country
and people of his district had beel
complaining to him because they coul'
not get cars sufficient to carry ol
their business.
. Mr.. Baruch replied that he heartily
agreed with the speaker on thi
point and that this matter alread,
. has been brought to his attention
some two or three weeks before b
different persons and that he feel