The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-17
] UTILITIES TO
FACE SERIOUS
COAL PROBLEM
Ignite Is in Unusual Demand,
According to Information
at Hearing
EASTERN SHIPMENTS SLOW
Deficiency in Shipments at the
Head of Navigation Mil
lions of Tons
EASTERN SHIPMENTS SLOW

Many public utility companies iE
North Dakota will face serious
problem this fall in supplying their
coal requirements, according to in
formation brought out in the hearing
here in which Minot, Fargo anu
Grand Forks utilities seek authority
from the railroad commission to
make surcharges from September 1.
Testimony was given to the COM
mission that Ignite coal mines in
North Dakota will not at this time
guarantee a supply of coal, nor guar
antee price quotation for longer
than 80 days. Uncertainty as to the
car situation and labor difficulties
are said to be the reasons assigned
for this condition, as we'll as prob :
able unprecedented demand for lig-
mite coal.
Coal Volume Less. ....
L. F. Whitney, of St. Paul, vice
president of the Northwestern Coal
company, said that the docks at Du-
luth and Superior are practically
cleared of eastern coal. He said
there now is about 100000 tons Of
coal at the lakes and at the same
time last year there was over seven
million tons of coal Doubt was ex-
pressed by utility men If sufficient
coal can be delivered to the head Of
navigation before freezing to care
for normal requirements.
NJ. l.. Hibbard, of the Union Light,
Heat and Power company, of Fargo,
said that his company had pur-
chased all the Elkhorn lump coal
coal used in making gas-that could
be purchased, en- route in cars from
the lake head to Fargo.
Figures were presented by the Red
River Valley Power company, OF
Grand Forks, which asked the COM
mission in its original petition to au-
thorize surcharge of 10 per cent on
electricity bills, Is per cent on steam
heat, and II IL per cent on gas, and
in a supplemental petition filed yes
terday by it and the MinOt and Fargo.
companies asking sufficient sur
charge to absorb the increased
freight rates, to show that the in
creased cost of coal would amount to
$69.SOO per year. OF this amount
$35,95O was represented in the ac-
tual coal price increase since May l
and $34,S50 in increased freight
charges.
Total Increased Cost.
The total increased cost of coal for
the Fargo utility was represented as
s155,147. The Fargo company asked
originally surcharge on electric
bills of 20 per cent, 25 per cent on
steam heat bills and II 1-2 per cens
on gas bills.
The Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot
companies are controlled by the same
interests. 1t was stated that the in
creased cost for operation in Grand
Forks is lessened somewhat by the
use of some hydro-electric power.
DR.. Wheeler, mayor of Grand
Forks, explaining the city's position
to the commission, said that the city
opposed no fair increase but opposed
anything beyond what was actually
necessary. He particularly empha-
sized that he opposed allowing the
company to operate its steam heat
plant at the expense of electricity or
gas consumers He was tol that the
commission would require steam
heat. to "stand on it's own legs"
N. P. Figures on Coal. -.
w. A. Mcdonald, Northern Pacific
agent here, has received data from
the general freight offices showing
the coal situation at the head OF the
lakes this month. The decrease in
hard coal received at the head OF the
Lakes up to this time this year IS
153,S3S tons less than the quantity
received during 1919.
The decrease in soft coal snip
ments received is even greater, there
being a decrease of 5,191,647 tons this
year over what was received last
year.
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