The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-09-01
COAL PRIORITY
FOR NORTHWEST
IS NOT LIFTED
Order Designed to Relieve Fuel
Situation Withstands At
tacks of Middle West
COAL PILE STILL SHORT
Freight Car Situation for Grain
Movement Not Encourag-
ing, New Reports Say

The Interstate Commerce commits
sion will not modify the northwest
coal priority in the near future, ac-
cording to word received in Bismarck
today asN..
No change will be made now or la
ter that will defeat its purpose, which
is to get the winters fuel supply to
upper lake ports before navigation
closes, the information received from
Washington added. .,,.....
according to the commissions ex-
perts, barring labor troubles and un-
forseen difficulties, 23,OO0,OOO tons or
coal will be shipped up to the lakes
this year. 1t is estimated by Off
cials of Minnesota that this will leave
the northwest short 100000 tons the
amount available last year.
N. d. Not Represented
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion had been asked to lift the prl-
0rity order for the movement OF coat
to the northwest by representatives
of several Ohio cities. They protest
ed that the shipment of coal to the
lake heads drains coal needed for
middle west industries.
North Dakota was not represented
at the hearing held before the COM
merce / commission. J. F. MCGEE,
Minnesota fuel commissioner, rep
resented the northwest's interests,
After the hearing, Chairman Clark, Of
the commerce commission, suggested
that Ohioans appoint a committee to
confer with representatives OF the
coal producers and the railroads, ana
work out some plan OF relieving thelF
situation.
Car Shortage Still Acute
Information received here today
concerning the car situation was not
SO Encouraging. however. At the meet
ing held yesterday in Fargo, at which
was decided to hold meeting in Bis
marck, in October to complete the or
ganization of a North Dakota Ship
pers association, statements were
made by 0. P. B. Jacobson, OF the
Minnesota commission, to the effect
that the northwest railroads have
only about rs per cent of their nor
NAL supply of freight cars. He SAID
this il slight increase since the
Aug. hearing in Washington, ana
added hat the northwest needs more
than ayIOO per cent supply OF freight
cars firing the remainder OF the year
if the grain and other shipping is
not to lbe seriously curtailed.
Unlets the car movement is increas-
A. l1 ca
cars fdr the movement OF grain, po-
tatoesa and other products in Octo-
Der, N Jacobson predicted.
Take Up Car Supply
st. laul, Sept. livery effort to
speed j,p the movement of freight
cars fol the northwestern grain crop
will be made by the members OF the
committee which met in Fargo yes
terday. This committee was compos.
ed of the warehouse and railroad
commissioners of Minnesota and
North and South Dakota.
The members of this committee de-
cided TO- make a weekly report to the
Washington officials regarding the
condition of the freight car supply
in the northwest.
A meeting of this committee togeth-
er with the shippers of North Da-
kota will be held in Bismarck soon
The car situation in the northwest
though showing some improvement, is
still serious, Commissioner Jacobson:
said today. He added that much
would be done, but they could not
hone to entirely relieve the situation
although the cimmittee did not look
for any serious consequences.