The Ward County independent., 1922-07-27
PEACE SOUGHT IN
n. D. LlGNlTE FIELDS
Nestos Wires Harding to Persuade
T, Unions to Put Mines in Separate
Category.

coal production in northwest fields
broke late yesterday when Governor
R. A. Nestos of North Dakota tele-
graphed President Harding to per-
suade the United Mine Workers Of
America to put the Ignite fields in
separate category and permit the
local operators to treat directly with
district leaders for the settlement Of
differences.
The governor wired the president
after he had formally acknowledged
an executive telegram from him urg-
ing immediate resumption Of mining.
A conference followed with the big
Ignite operators, and Stanley Wash
burn, vice-president of the Washburn
Lignite Coal company, suggested that
the governor join him in making this
request of the president. Governor
Nestos was informed that most Of the
Washburn miners went out in re-
sponse to the general call, and not
because of any grievance and for that
reason particularly, both sides wish
ed to avoid violence. AS North Da-
kota,. Minnesota and South Dakota
must depend upon the North Dakota
Ignite mines for 80 per cent of their
domestic and power fuel this fall and
winter, it is imperative that mining
be resumed at once.
Telegraphs White House
AS a result of the conference, Gov
dent as follows:
Warren G. Harding, White House,
Washington, D. c.: The fuel situa-
ton in the northwest and in North
Dakota especially, is based entirely
on the production Of Ignite coal.
There are within the borders of my
state larger deposits of this coal than
Of bituminous and anthracite in any
other state in the union. The Wash
burn Lignite Coal company and a
few smaller mines, are closed by the
strike. Most Of these men went out
on the national call and not, as l am
informed, because of any local griev-
ances. While, as l wired you this
morning, am eager to commence the
mining of coal in this state, l am
equally anxious to exert every effort
within my power to have these mines
reopened peacefully rather than by
methods which might result in vio-
lence. In conference, today with coal
operators it. has been suggested that
the Ignite coal fields, which have no
more economical bearing on the bit
luminous than the bituminous on the
anthracite, be placed, if possible, in a
separate category and the operators
be allowed to deal directly with the
district leaders.
~ am glad to join in this request
made by Stanley Washburn OF the
Washburn company to you by wire
today to use such means as you deem
appropriate and consistent to per-
suade the United Mine Workers of
America to have this problem, which
is largely local to my state, settled
between the operators and the dis
trict leaders. AS both appear rea-
sonable and anxious to serve the COM
munity as we'll as to secure reasonable
protection for their own interests,
believe that such an arrangement will
enable us to begin mining shortly and
that such an action will, in large
measure, solve the fuel problem of
the northwest.
Governor R. A. Nestos."
Can Double Output
The Ignite reserves Of North Da-
kota are estimated by the United
States geological survey at more
than ,6OO, 1000, 100000 tons. OF the
total production of the state, the
Washburn company is the largest con-
tributor, mining about Al per cent:
In previous years the domestic and
industrial Ignite consumption in
North Dakota, Minnesota and South
Dakota has amounted to about 600,-
900 tons. The Washburn company
guaranteed President Harding and
Governor Nestos to double their cap
acity the moment the strike is settled,
provided they can be assured an ade-
| guate supply Of cars and sufficient
labor. ..
Refusal of the union miners to
agree to district or state conferences
on wages has been the chief obstacle
in the settlement of the miners
strike. The miners want nation
agreement covering the bituminous
fields and another for the anthracite
fields ss.-.