The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-08-30
Gathering Opens in State
Capitol This Morning at
Which Problems Are Taken
Up
CONGRESS CONVENES
Fuel Distribution Gathering
Expected to Discuss Fair
Price for Coal

A representative group Of Ignite
coal operators, getting their meeting
at state capitol under way shortly
after II o'clock today, started the
work of perfecting a permanent or,
ganization of the North Dakota Lig-
mite Operators Association. Follow
ing the call to order by Stanley
Washburn, recently named president
Of the Temporary organization, the
operators approved in general the
verbal report Of plan of organiza-
tion submitted by John F. Sullivan
Of Mandan and directed the commit
tee to submit full written report
for consideration before adjourn
ment today.
In an effort to prevent any lack Of
harmony which might caused the
jealousy between small and large
mine operators the meeting voted
that representation be given on the
basis of one vote for each mine,
that vice-presidents who should also
be directors be named from all local
mining fields in the state and Off
GERS be named who, with the board
of directors, should direct the poll
cies of the organization.
Mr.. Washburn, in opening the
said that he had not de-
sired to head the organization and
believed that the best interests Of
all might be served by naming an
operator interested in one of the
smaller mines of the state. He de-
clared that, as representative OF
the largest mine in the state, he
took the position that what serves
the state and community best serves
best the interest of each individual
in the association.
"As nearly as I can determine
there is demand for 100000 tons of
coal each year in North Dakota
alone" he said, "and all of the lig-
mite mines have never marketed
more than one million tons. l am
not in favor Of fixing price on
other methods to squeeze out COM
petition. Reports that come from
the east indicate clearly the seri-
BUSINESS of the lack of coal. l am
informed Wyoming coal is being
quoted at price which probably
would make it $12 to SIS ton in
the Northwest. There is lack of
coal in the east and the
central competitive field must supply
this demand. 1t seems to me not to
be a question of price so much as it
is getting the coal to the consumer
this fall in the Northwest"
Mr.. Sullivan, outlining his tenta-
tive plan Of organization said that
he believed there should be wide
spread publicity campaign. In the
past, he said, Ignite had been adver-
Used chiefly on the basis of sub
,titute, an incorrect theory. He also
suggested the possibility of the state
standard for its pro-
duct to prevent shipment of inferior
products beyond it's borders, adding
that this is done in Washington in
the fruit industry. He was prompt
ID to suggest this for consideration,
he said, because he learned of an in
:ident in which very inferior coal
was being advertised by a Minnesota
as North Dakota Ignite coal.
James S. Milloy, secretary of the
Minot Association oe Commerce, pre-
sented report for the publicity
committee, which urged that the OPP
,rators join in a publicity campaign,
especially in South Dakota and Min
lesota, and that the mines con.
;ributed proportlonately to the fund,
IN the basis of output.
This afternoon a state fuel distri-
,ution congress was to convene un-
Ter the direction Of Governor Mes
os. The congress was expected to
liscuss the price of Ignite and other
.oals. The operators in their session
we're informed that Secretary OF
Commerce Hoover had decided the
natter of action with regard to price
vas up to the state authorities. The
attitude of Governor Nestos was rep
esented to operators as being that
Until the exact situation is definite
Y known the matter of price
hould be left to the spirit of fair
,lay of the Ignite operators and the
.ealization that in building perma-
lent market the operators cannot
afford to profiteer.