OCR Text |
Show HJ From present appearances there will M be a coal famine here next winter, HJ j that is unless something of .1 very M decided nature is done to prevent' it. Hi That there is plenty of coal within Jf easy distance of the coal consuming Ml centers there is no question. A way Hjl ought to be found to mine it and get HJ it to market in quantities sufficient to supply the needs of the people. It ihas been suggested and with a good deal of reason that the governor of the state might with propriety notify the coal mine owners and the railroad companies that the people expected them to furnish sufficient coal for their wants and that if they fail to do it the state will take H( possession of the mines and the rail- M roads and operate them so that the H people will not suffer. In winter H coal is certainly a public necessity '. both the coal mines and railroads arc public utilities. If the corporations fail to furnish coal just as soon as the first pinch comes the state, wc believe, would be justified in taking the matter into its own hands and offering such wages as would bring plenty of experienced miners to get all the coal that may be required and appropriating enough cars to bring it to the consuming centers, charging a fair price for the coal and giving the coal mine owners own-ers and the railroads a fair compensation. compen-sation. Virulent diseases require heroic her-oic measures. A shortage of coal to the extent threatened is a virulent disease di-sease and the remedy should be applied. |