The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-09-07
THE FUEL SITUATION


Dakota have been "lulled into q
sense Of false security" by reports of
allotments of eastern coal to the
Northwest and the presence in North
Dakota of great deposits of Ignite
coal were made at the Fuel Distribu-
ton Congress held recently at the call
of Governor Nestos.
The situation facing North Dakota,
according to these declarations, is
that the Ignite coal mines must
either double their output or there
must be nearly a million tons of east
ern coal shipped into North Dakota.
The former was declared possible, and
the latter impossible. w. H. Suits
man, speaking for the railroad COM
mission, as fuel distributors, told the
Congress that there is no doubt but
that North Dakota as well as other
states in the Northwest are facing a
serious fuel situation.
The proposal of the North Dakota
Ignite Operators Association to EN-
bark upon campaign of education
and advertising on the use of Ignite
to meet the situation was approved in
the Fuel Distribution Congress in the
following resolution:
Whereas on account of the coal
strike, the scarcity of eastern coal
for domestic use in this state will not
be available during the coming fall
and winter and, .J<J 0
Whereas, between 100000 and
$1O,OOO,O0O are annually expended for
the purchase of eastern coal, much of
which can be retained within the
state by giving employment to miners
and by encouraging the more general
use of native coal by our citizens.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that
this North Dakota Ignite Coal Con-
gress, representing the people of
North Dakota, 60 on record heartily
commencing the action Of the Ignite
operators Of North Dakota in launch
ing a sustained educational campaign
to make the temporary market for
Ignite created this year by existing
conditions, permanent one, mad
Be it further resolved that we call
upon the people Of North Dakota and
in particular various civic organiza-
.tions, to get solidly behind this edu-
= cational campaign to the end that
North Dakota's great deposits Of lig-
mite be more fully developed and the
North Dakota coal field take it's pro-
per place among the leading coal pro-
ducing fields Of the nation, and
Be it further resolved, that this
Congress favors such REIMBURSEMENT
Of Ignite freight rates necessary to
the general development of North
Dakota Ignite coal fields"
The resolution was read by James
S. Milloy of Minot, committee chair
man.
The Fuel Distribution Congress was
st,N %n1 IL hxyN
I Nestos during the course of which he
Z Ignite coal operators must expect to
5 build up the industry only by treating
the public fairly. IT, ..s.... II.
The greatest task of the operators,
he said, was in educating people to
the proper use Of Ignite coal. The
only course which may be pursued
with permanent benefit, he declared,
was through the building up of the
industry on sound basis for the fu-
ture. He declared that he would not
have undertaken to give cooperation
of the administration in this respect if
he had not been assured Of the inten-
tions of the operators to act always
on fair basis. y:
"If you try to exact a price higher
than you should because of the pres
.ent emergency you will lose the mar
ket next year." the Governor said
"You have said you expected to build
your profits from increased produc-
ton, and if you do so am confident
that we shall see Ignite coal develop
ment not only this year but in years
to come" -. -r.a,., =
DR.. J. H. Worst told the congress
that North Dakota people are spend
ing 100000 to $10,000,0OO a year
for coal mined outside of the state
which should be kept within the state.
Stanley Washburn, president at the
meeting, asserted that the bulk Of the
bituminous coal being produced this
fall would 60 into the eastern markets.
Mr.. Stutsman informed the congress
that "there will be tremendous coal
shortage in the Northwest in spite Of
what can be done. There will be no
Paris Chief Sees 6