Show THE TH E COAL OAf PR LEM The coming caming of the Uis interstate com coin commission for or the purpose of it the coal situation in Utah as it relates to L t common carriers devel develops develops develops ops in hi n a subject of the tho utmost importance and ami calls caUs attention to a most peculiar condition of affairs Whatever hl t vcr the hearing may show as asto asto asto to the tha t relations of railroads to the tho coal co J trade It cannot relieve the stress of ot a n critical dilemma for Utah With win winter wl winter ter near by the coal supply today Js is little loss than a famine t nine The Tho most prominent smelter sm men in this thin city alty de declare dare clare o they have a short supply of fuel dealers have no surplus worth r Co companies cannot C T t A UR u with their orders and RP an the th railroads d find difficulty in transporting the coal that can bo Io mined Worse Woe still there is no to relief roUet in sight What will happen when cold weather w ther arrives is only sur surmise surmise mise but it Is cetIn certain somebody is s going to suffer unless some solution now unforeseen is discovered d Still another phase of the question questions Js Is involved in n that provision of the th new rate law which demands that the com corn common comman cornmon mon man carriers go o out our of interstate coal business within twenty months from the passage or of the law lawa a provision which was followed immediately by an order from the tho interior department withdrawing coal lands from entry In ii effect unless this order is withdrawn tl tle e law will ask that the railroads go out of or the tho coal business but will make it impossible for tor any anyone one else elso to begin operations except on such lands as have already been entered by private owners In one Utah case the has appealed to tho the interior department for forthe forthe forthe the cancellation of ot Its order seques sequestrating sequestrating coal lands l citing the obvious fact that Secretary with withdrawal withdrawal withdrawal of the lands is in contravention of ot a congressional law and so without authority and void If this tn s contention is upheld the lards lands I will have to be restored to entry unless congress pro provides provIdes provides vides otherwise at Its coming session but meanwhile the consumers of ot coal coalt t and cok coke are likely to be confronted with about the most serious question they have had to meet in many years ears Unless some practical legislation Is en eo enacted acted to meet the situation the com corn commercial mercial expansion of the IntermountaIn i country which is so dependent upon fuel supply for the smelters and rail railroads railroads railroads roads and manufactures In general may be checked and injured most se so seriously While the investigation which begins today has another specific object the commission will doubtless consider this th phase phae of the coal business here and em embody embody embody body its it findings in the report to be made to Washington |