The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-28
PRESIDENT IS
ASKED T0AID
Ignite FIGHT
Requested by Governor to
Urge Congressional Inves.
tigati0n of Rate Boost
SEEK MOTIVES FOR IT
Telegram Asks Investigation
to Uncover "Mysterious
Influences" at Work

President Coolidge was asked by
Governor Nestos. in telegraphic
statement last night, to urge a con-
gressional investigation Of the at
tempt of railroads to boost Ignite
coal rates 45 to 65 per cent. He de-
elarcd the question was more far
reaching than Ignite rates merely.
involving the economic future Of the
state and the determination OF
whether or not it can be halted at
any time by pressure Of eastern in
terests to raise freight rates to
check the Ignite industry.
The governor declared that the sit
uation constitutes an emergency
vitality affecting the industrial future
Of the state and for this reason hv
deems it his duty to place it before
the president.
The railroads, he said, had declined
to withdraw the new Ignite tariffs
which they filed and which were sus-
pended temporarily by the state rail
road commission and Interstate
Commerce Commission pending hear
ings. He cited the telegram Of one
traffic manager of a Northwestern
road to the effect that the increase
was made because Of instructions
from 'our connecting lines"
"The promise apparently is that
rates must be fixed to enable coal
coming from twelve hundred or two
thousand miles to- compete with Il
home product which in the case Of
the Twin Cities travels only FIVE hun
dred miles. It seems to US of the
Northwest that this action in regard
to rates is taken chiefly to protect,
the market for eastern coal Of which.
there is nearly twelve million tons at
the Duluth docks being a surplus Of
nearly five million tons above the
five year average and that such
course, is unfair to the people of.
North Dakota who are seeking to de-
velop one Of its natural resources
and unfair also to the Northwest
which needs our coal. It is clear
while Ignite coal is being sold in the
Twin Cities in carload lots between
five dollars and six dollars q ton that
it is impossible for eastern coal in
terests to advance their prices above
the present range which they might
do if this competitor were destroyed
by excessive freight rates. As l have
stated the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has suspended these rates.
The people Of the Northwest have an
implicit confidence in the character
and fairness OF this board and doubt
not that we will secure justice
through this medium. 1t is because
We believe, however, that there is q
great and economic principle involved
more far reaching both as to North
Dakota and the natl on than the rates
on Ignite coal that on behalf of my
states, its citizens, and this industry
| respectfully urge the wisdom of q
congressional investigations to ascer-
tain, first, who are these mysterious
connecting lines who have the pow
err and authority to instruct our
Northwestern roads TO institute a
rate which il sustained would end
the development Of one Of North Da-
kOta's greatest assets, and secondly,
what mysterious Influences arc at
work in the east or elsewhere which
by forcing high freight rates on
North Dakota coal can exact from
the people Of the Northwest one dol
lar to two dollars more per ton for
their coal.
1T must be apparent that no for
cign capital will be invested in North
Qekota coal development or any
other industry based on coal while
the belief prevails that the moment
any industry created in North Dakota
begins to grow it can and will be
strangled by rates arbitrarily fixed
at the bcquests of mysterious forces
as soon as the product of these in
| dustries threaten losses to any east
ern competitor such increase Of ratcs
may suddenly deprive North Dakota
of it's inheritance in natural re-
sources and its geographical location
in regard to its. own markets. If the
Dakotas and eastern Montana, under
whose prairies live one-third of the
total coal areas of the United States
are not permitted to supply the
Northwest, then the advice from our
eastern friends to diversity is large
| ly a hollow pretence and mockery.
1t is because deem fairness in com
petition to be q vital factor in csl
tablishing q permanent prosperity
not only in North Dakota but
throughout the West that presume
I to ask you as chief executive Of this
great nation to urge Congress thu,
congressional committee be ap.
pointed to determine how such con-
ditions as these described above car
be brought aboAt and to devise ways
and means to enable the NorthwesY
to gather the fruits Of It's natural in
heritance within its natural market,
without molsstation by interest.
whose headquarters are two thoussnt
miles away. The people Of the Moth
west recognise the problems Of ths
railroads and the difaculties unde.
which they have labored. W,
have tried to eliminate unfair eriti
cism and unfair acfion toward xh.,.