The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-08-22
Failure !. 7 To d Buy !: 1 : :.
Coal Now Means
Shortage Later
Lipnite.. Producers. Must. Dispose
& & .. :. OF Product to Keep Mines
:5 il Running
PRICES 25 CENTS HIGHER
Local Fuel Returns to High Figure
of Last Winter New
Z ~ Laws Help &$

Because the price of coal is high
central North Dakota consumers are
not filling their bins now, in spite of
lessons of the last two years, and lig-
mite producers predict that unless the
public awakes to the situation, the
mines may be unable to supply the
demand when coal weather comes.
\ Native Ignite, mined within less
than 100 miles of Bismarck, is now
selling at SIS the ton, as compared with
So before. the beginning of the war,
three years ago. Ignite touched SIS
once last winter, but dropped back to
s4.75 the prevailing price, June 1 the
S. price. was restored, and producers
declare there is little hope of another
reduction. ~ ~
The workman's compensation act,
which assesses one mine in this vi
cinity $4,000 per annum for the pro-
lection Of it's employees. has increas-
ed the cost Of production II cents
per ton in the case. of one mine in
the Bismarck territory and 20 cents
in another, states Sen. E. A. Hughes
vice president of the Beulah Coal Co.
The mine inspection act, requiring
more expensive equipment, the en-
ployment Of higher salaried foremen,
etc., and the eight-hour day, reducing
the hours of labor, are also factors in
increased production costs, it is said.
Beulah coal now sells at the mouth
of the mine for S2.S5 as compared
with SITS before America went into
the war. Before this fuel reaches the
consumer there, has been added IS
cents per ton. for freight and 75 cents
for carriage. Out of the remaining IS
cents per ton the dealer. after deduct
ing for loss of weight in transit de-
.murrage, office expense and several
other little items; takes his profit,
which the retailer insists is anything
but exhorbiant under present condi-
tions.
y All grades of Ignite coal sell at IS
in bismarck. Montana coal sells at
ST, so to $7..75, and. there are other
types OF imported fuel which sell all
the way from 50 to SIT per ton. Lig-
mite is, however, central North Da-
kota's most dependable fuel, and it is
in this coal that consumers here are
chiefly interested
The ,Beulah mine produces about
800 tons: daily; the ,Washburn 7Ligniitte's IT,
.Co!,;, ,atsWilton turns out .209 tons ssys
sery%: fshouias, The capital; city's an
nual cohsimption-is about zoo; 900 tons
Of which around 50 per cent is used
by one public utility plant in manu-
Featuring electric current, for power
illumination and cooking, and steam
for heating purposes. Normally the
mines can take care of all consump-
ton demands, but to do this they
must operate every day in the year.
and this they cannot do if there is no
sale.-Bismarck Tribune. :
J., THE GAME PLAYED OUT. q :,
Lincoln left the famous definition
of democracy as government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
ple. But at present there seems to be
the danger of realizing Oscar Wilde's
notion Of democracy as simply the
.sbludgeoning Of the people, by the
people and for the, people," It is diff fffii-
. cult to speak of big and little profit:
eers, for in the slang phrase of a year
or; SO ago., everybody is doing it.,
Everybody has been tue king on the h
price for just all that the market ast
would stand, labor included: 2S 4
It Is hard to believe that high prices.
are altogether due to the conspiracy
Of few. At any rate, many many 5taha thous-. ,tu.
ands have boarded the band Wagon Of
| high prices, and charged Just q little
more than was sab olutely necessary,
Prices cannot come down, il produc-
tion remains low; prices cannot come. come
down, il wages remain As high as they,
are in many lines.
Let us be honest with ourselves.
The democra ATTIC game of each one
:bludg coming the other fellow has been
thoroughly tried out, and it has failed
tits afyicious circl |, and leads only to-
disconte or worse
set on 3 rea ona ble u basil, sitSi
As necessAry to N disil llnsio elves:
iLetsita nSt az aasiln 4 q; Y that ecause,
one han pleIlt of 1 q nOney, one can be;