Montana Oil Journal

Coal Miners Request Duty On Natural Gas From Alberta Wells

Product Now Piped Across Line, Duty Free, Tends To Lessen Work For Miners, Says Wire Sent To Wheeler

ROUNDUP—Alarmed over the serious menace to the Montana coal mining industry presented by the influx of Canadian natural gas into the state, Montana mine workers and operators have inaugurated an active and vigorous fight for the placing of a duty on foreign gas.

To permit this gas to come in duty free, it is pointed out, will impair the market for Montana-produced coal to a considerable extent, thus depriving Montana union coal miners of work which is sorely needed at this time.

That Canadian gas is a factor that must be reckoned with is an established fact. Not many months ago the newspapers carried a report the hookup of the Rogers Imperial gas well, which is located in Alberta directly north of the Sweet Grass hills in Liberty county, Montana.

A "feeder" line was built into this well last fall by the Montana Cities Gas Co., a subsidiary of the Montana-Dakota Co., which supplies natural gas for the Great Falls Gas Co. and other cities and towns.

Miners Resentful

With no state tax on natural gas to protect them, Montana coal people strongly resent this new move and declare they are at least entitled to protection from this foreign fuel which employs virtually no labor of any kind, and pays no duty coming into the United States.

Several years ago Canadian coal, principally from the Lethbridge region in Alberta, threatened to replace Montana coal.

This danger was speedily and happily averted by imposition of a duty of 45 cents per ton after the matter was taken up by the Montana coal men generally and the Montana press. The present situation, it is needless to say, calls for similar action.

Sends Telegram

In view of the situation, Wm. Riddell, district secretary of the United Mine Workers of America, last week sent the following telegram to Senator B. K. Wheeler at Washington, D. C.:

"Natural gas from Canadian well, known as Rogers Imperial, north of Montana Sweet Grass hills, is now coming into pipe line into Great Falls, Montana, and as comes in duty free. This deprives Montana union coal miners of work which is sorely needed at this time.

Canadian coal pays forty-five cents per ton duty.

Why not natural gas? If gas charged duty of say ten cents per thousand cubic feet, our mines and miners would not be thrown out of work.

Can you assist? Advise please."

It is urged that all those directly or indirectly interested in the coal mining industry call the attention of Montana's delegation in congress, both senators and representatives, to the pressing need of immediate action in placing a duty on the importation of Canadian gas. If this influx of duty-free waste Canadian fuel is not stopped or materially curtailed, coal men fear it will sound the death knell of Montana coal mines.—Roundup Record Tribune.