Coal railroad backers seek state action

MATT GOURAS Associated Press Writer HELENA

The company seeking to build a 121-mile coal r a i l r o a d i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Montana told the governor in a meeting Tuesday that the state needs to make the first move in the development of the Otter Creek coal tracts. But Gov. Brian Schweitzer countered in an hourlong meeting that all the private companies that could be involved with development of coal in that area want the state to sell its coal cheaply to facilitate their projects. Mike Gustafson, developer of the long-delayed Tongue River Railroad, said coal companies won't commit unt...