The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-18

rapidly crystallized into a demand
that federal grand jury should in
vestgate the possibility that the fed
eral ANTITRUST act was being violat-
ed. The attorney general of North
Dakota .insttuted an investigation as
to possible criminal prosecution but
completion of this investigation has
been deferred pending the hearings.
Representatives of. the attorney gem
erals office will give particular atten-
tion to any evidence developing at
the hearings which would tend, to JUS
tify such step.
Ignite Market Expands.
The Importance of North Dakota
ical fuel for domestic and Industrial
purposes in large area of the North
west was emphasized in the publicity
| which the case has attracted. North
Dakota possesses more coal than Ger
many, France, and England combined
but mining operations in this state
did not assume sufficient proportions
seriously to affect the market for
eastern coal until within recent
years. Encouraged by the state gov
eminent and development organiza-
tions, the Ignite operators launched
an intensive campaign in 1922 to eX-
tend the market for North Dakota
coal within this state, Minnesota and
South Dakota. The results of this
campaign are shown in statistics
compiled by the state mine inspector
indicating that production in 1928,
placed at 1,435, 605Ntons, was the larg-
est in the history Of mining in North
Dakota. In 1922 the total prOduc-
ton was 1,057,S23 tons. The eXpan-
sion of the Ignite consuming area
was particularly marked in Mime
sofa and South Dakota and is to some
extent responsible for the huge sur
plus Of eastern coal at the head of
the lakes. Stocks at the head of the
lakes this year are greatly in excess
of other years, according to infor-
nation coming from dock interests.
According to state officials particu
larly interested in the development
of the North Dakota coal fields, con-
sumers in the Ignite consuming area
are effecting savings ranging from 10
to 40 per cent in their full bills
through the use of North Dakota
coal instead of eastern coal. Major
Stanley Washburn, president of the
operators association and vice pres
ident of the largest mine in the state,
has predicted that the states output
within a few years will be from 81
100000 to 100000 tons annually and
has repeatedly pointed out that the
use of North Dakota coal in the
Northwest will eventually keep $780,
100000, now going east annually for
eastern coal, in the Northwest to
help develop this section.
HOuck in Charge.
Stanley B. Houck, Minneapolis at
torney engaged by the North Dakota
Ignite Coal Operators association,
is in charge Of the operators case.
He is being assisted by John Thorpe,
first assistant attorney general OF
North Dakota, +. II. Hendricks, rate
expert Of the railroad commission;
V. E. Smart, Of jefferson City, Mis-
souri,, former rate expert of the
North Dakota commission, who was
brought back especially for this case;
representatives of the commissions
in South Dakota and Minnesota, and
traffic experts affiliated with various
civic bodies and industries interest
ed in opposing the new tariff. The
various carriers interested will be
present to appear as witnesses and
to attend their mid-winter meeting
to be held Monday Evening, Febru-
airy %.
Note-This story sent on request
of A. F. Bradley, secretary of the
Bismarck Association of Commerce,
interested in the coal case from a
civic angle.