The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-21
Ignite CASE
HEARING TAKEN
UP HERE AGAIN
South Dakota Rate Expert
Saws That Fuel Is in Class
bv Itself for Rate Basis
DOCK OPERATORS SILENT
Do Not Present Testimony at
Opening of Adjourned Hear
ing in Bismarck Today

Hearing in the North Dakota liz,
mite coal rate case, in which railroads
eek TO increase freight rates on thIS
coal about 30 percent, accordtn. l"
railroad commission experts, was re-
,umcd here today before EXahlhrr
". II. Wagner Of the Interstate Com
mcrcc Commission and the North la
kuta Railroad Commission. Evidence
az the railroads was introduced 1T n
hearing several weeks ago. The
hearing is being held in the tn't"d
States courtroom.
d. l.. Kelley, rate expert for the
South Dakota railroad commission.
opened the case of the protestantS
with testimony, being questioned by
l.. l.. Dllnan, Assistant Attorney
General Of South Dakota. Ross MIL
cr, engineer for the South Dakota
commission. also may take the vat
ness stand.
The consumers viewpoint was pre-
scntcd By Mr. Kelley in the opening
ytagc,'of his testimony, during winch
he compared Ignite and other c"aIS
and emuhasized the excldsivenesS OF
the Dakota ignite in its field. Seek
ing to show from United States geo
logical surveys that the Dakota lig-
mite co.l is comparable in heating
value only to Texas Ignite, Mr.. KEEL
lev prepared to combat the railroads
case for increased rates which was
based on showing that the freight
rates now prevailing on Ignite coal
are much lower than on other Goals
used in the Northwest.
Fills A Need
Stating that Ignite coal fills Il
need but has not greatly cut into
thu coal shipments from the Duluth
and Superior docks. Mr.. Kelley as
serted that the price of eastern Goa
shipped to the docks and distributed
over the Northwest is becoming al
most prohibitive in cost for the aver
age consumer. The same. he assert
ed, was true with reference to south
crn illinois, Colorado and kentuck.
Goals shipped into South Dakota.
Mr.. Kelley produced geological
mite coal was classified below sub
bituminous and bituminous coal II
heating values, preparatory to ad
vancing the theory that the Goa
should be considered in n class sc
parate from other Goals in the flXin
of a rate, and that other factor
than oulk should enter into the max
ing of Ignite coal rates.
Dock Operators Silent
Coal dock operators and Montan
and Wyoming operators, who are nc
opposed to the Ignite incrcas
were scheduled to open tho resume
hearing today. but Frank Lyons {
Washington. representing the Nortl
western Coal Dock Operators, al
nounced the association was IN a
cord with the carriers testimony ar
would introduce nothing at this tim
Thomas =. Clemow OF the Montar
Coal and Iron Company said repr
sentative of that organization wou
arrive later and ais. a rcpresentati'
of the Big Horn Galleries and ON
Creek Company of Wyoming.
The failure of the coal dock ope
ators to introduce testimony may,
is understood. make some change
the case of the protestants. Publ
charges had been made by Govern
Ncstos and others that the propose
Ignite increases were the result
a conspiracy between the coal do
operators and eastern railroads, b
it is probable this phase will II
enter into the hearing.