The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-08-11
WILL SPEED UP
COAL SUPPLY
IN DAK0TAS
Representatives to Visit This
State in Interest of Fuel
a.
SEIZURE APPROVED
Drastic Steps by Federal Gov:
ernment Urged by North.
west Executives r.

atlons for sending representatives
from Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
North Dakota and South Dakota, to
be known as the northwest coal COM
mittec to Washington to aid in speed
ing up coal shipments to this Sec
ton, were under way today following
the conference Of governors of these
states here yesterday.
!, Close on the heels of the confer
ence came word from Washington
that an increase Of $4,000 tons each
week in the movement of bituminous
coal to the northwest had been allow
ed by the federal coal committee.
This will make tv.ai of 25O,0OO tons
week to come via Lake Superior
ports.
According to figures given out by
Governor Prcus of Minnesota at the
conference the Unanimous coal de.
livered at the decks at Superior and
Duluth for April, May, June and July
this year arc more than 100000 tons
behind the figures for the same pV
riod last year. a
In 1921 for the four months, g.
445, 900 tons arrived at the Head of
the Lakes. This year to date the
movement has only been 100000 tons.
Last year. anthracite shipments to.
tailed 7S8,000 tons as compared with
only 1851 tons this summer.
Approve Seizure. ~ rs
Declaring that the northwest draws
largely for its fuel supply from the
stocks available at the Head Of the
Lakes, all the gLvernors-Preus of
Minnesota; McMaster, South Dakota;
Nestos, North Dakota; Blaine, Wis
consin, and Kendall, Iowa-urge dras.
tic steps by the federal government
to assure this supply. ~
The governors adopted a resolu
tion which was forwarded to Presi7
dent Harding, stating that the execu-.,
tives and the people. of the north1'
west would approve federal seizure
of coal mines and coal carriers if
thought necessary oy the national ad-
ministration to carry out the steps
necessary to obtain coal.
The threatened shortage "imperls
the prosperity of our business" and
endangers "thc health Of our people, !"
said the resolution sent to the presi"
dent. saf
The proclamation, telegram and
resolution were signed by Governor
Preus, Governor R. A. Nestos, North
Dakota; Governor w. H. McMaster.
South Dakota; Governor John J.
Blaine, Wisconsin, and Governor N.
E. Kendall, Iowa, all Of whom were
present at yesterdays conference.
Governor Preus announced also
that C. P. White, federal fuel distri-
butor for the northwest, will arrive
here Monday for conference with
him relative to the movement of coal
to Lake Erie ports from the nom
union mines and sent to the Head OF
the Lakes.
All of the governors in the confer
ence, Governor Preus said, left the
Twin Cities today confident that the
federal administration will see more
clearly the seriousness of the sltua-
ton in the northwest, as a result VI
yesterdays conference. :
The governors we're agreed that
anything that now can be done Will
not prevent a coal shortage in the
homes this winter and will not pre-
vent a shortage among the Industries
in the next few weeks. Many indus
tries are certain to close down and
hundreds of men will be thrown out
of work as the result it was said.
Several of the railroad and ware
house commissions and the fuel ad-
mini strators met with Ivan Bowen
state fuel administrator today, Tor a
conference on coal distribution. a
program for shipments on equal
basis from the Head of the Lakes was
drawn up and agreed to by the sew
eral state representatives. 1hH
source of this supply being in Mime
sofa. Mr.. Bowen was entrusted to look
after the interests of the other states
at the port. -