The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-07-13
URGE PRIORITY
ON COAL ORDERS
FOR NORTHWEST
Operators in Conference to Speed
Up Deliveries Take Step to
Assure Movement of Coal
REJECT ZONING SYSTEM
Deliveries of Coal to Northwest
Are Short by Half, Says Re-
nOrt at Conference

Washington, July I3.-New emerg-
ency orders from the interstate COM
merce commission granting priority
to the shipment of coal to the north
west and New England by operators
having contracts in those sections will
be proposed by the bitunlinous coal
operators to the railroad executives
in New York tomorrow as a plan for
improving the transportation situation.
he committee selected to repre-
sent the operators Wednesday also
was chosen as a permanent one to
function on all questions relating to
car supply. D. B. Wentz. president
Of the National Coal association, was
selected as chairman.
ST. Orders Disobeyed S
General complaint was made by the
operators that the railroads were not
strictly observing the interstate COM
!merce commissions 30-day priority
order giving preference to the mines
in the assignment of open cars. Ap-
parently the operators interpreted the
order as requiring the assignment Of
all open top equipment to- the mines.
but some charged "willful violations
Cn the part of the carrier. Ohio op-
orators were understood to have de-
clared that 200 coal cars in their ter.
ritory had been alocated to ship
pipe to Texas oil fields since the COM
missions order
Two proposals rejected by the op-
orators were suggested by a commit
tee named by the general conerefcne.
Establishment of a zone system, re-
stricting the sales territory of the
operators with view to shortening
the haul, was repected after the op-
orators had complained that such a
plan would cause them to break con-
tracts. The other proposal for di-
vision of the coal supply for the
northwest among mines in Ohio,
western Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Illinois and Indiana also was rejected
after the meeting was informed that
contracts have been made for all OF
the northwest supply.
Deliveries Short BY Halt
At the meeting, which was open
only to operators, reports. were made
that the average daily delivery of
wal AOI tuC uOA Atu"Cot dluOuAlCu "
only 1857 cars. practically 0ne.half
of the quantity said to be needed as
insurance against coal famine next
winter. The operators declared the
small deliveries were due entirely to
lack of transportation.
Possibility of the re-establishment
of a federal fuel administration also
was understood to have been men
toned but none of the operators pro-
fessed to have information as to the
governments attitude on such pro-
posal. Informally, the operators op.
posed any such proposals.
CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED
st. Paul, July 13.-Confidence that
there soon will be great movement
of coal to the northwest to relieve
present conditions was expressed to-
day by officials here, following the
receipt of telegram from John F.
McGee. state fuel administrator, who
is in Washington.
He indicated his belief that an
agreement would be reached to send
1000 cars Of coal daily to Lake Erie
for shipment to northwest lake points,
and for distribution over North and
South Dakota and Minnesota.
Governor Norbeck, of South Dakota,
sent a message to Governor Burn.
quist pledging aid to the Minnesota
movement to get coal for the north.
west