, 1873-06-30
From The Springfield Journal, editorial.


There ia one requirement Of the new Railroad
law which, il construed strictly, cannot fail, Ye
four, to have q most depressing effect upon one
Of tho most important interests Of tho State.
Of this commodity, owing to its bulky nature, ia
that Of, it's transportation to market. Illinois is
almost undorlaid with most valuable conl
measures, but except to supply the small
local demand for fuel, tho humorous
sl,afts which are diBtantly removed from Ollcago
would not pay the oxpenso Of working thom,
were 1t not TINT the RAILROADS have heretofore al
lowed special ratos for cars employed in such
shipment. We're the minea Of Springfield, for
instance pscG.dl On prS Teta scals iR regard to
Impossible for tho former to ship to Chicago at
all. Transportation rates under tho new law
being according to distance and without dis
elimination, Wilmington and other favored
Chicago coal-trado at prices far below thoao
which the miners Of the central portion OF tho
State can afford to sell for 8; aud the money in
vested in our costly coal ehafts, unless there is
some roliof, must henceforth be like 10 much
dead capital. Their occupation must bo cons
fined to supplying merely, tho local demand,
which is nlready over-supplied. One case Of pe-
culiar hardship haa Just come to our knowledge
through the Railroad Commissioners. It is that
OF tho firm OF g. @. Morriol, an extensive coal
ment in another place.. In this caso and there
are others like it, it will DO Beon, this coal miner
ownB the cars on which LIE ships
his coal to murkot under q con
he has heretofore been allowed liberal special
rateH for the transportation, Ho Ia now in
formed that this contract muat coage, aud that
after the 1st OF July tho ratios will bo advanced
10 80 cents Per ton to Chicago, and to other
points in proportion. q small drawback only be-
Ing allowed for car service. Mr.. Merrick says it
this is enforced, that bis worka must close, al.
though he has 100000 invested in them; and
that his invostmont will be dead loBH to him.
His case aooms peculiarly hard. Tho general
impression las been that, undor the work.
ings OF the now Railroad law, tho advanced
rates of froight would bo made up by an I'D.
vance In tue prico Of coal. This might bo the
case, were Chicago dependent for Its bituminoua
fuel upon Illinois, but this IL not 40. indiana,
our neighboring State, also has immense coal
fields, near and accessible to Chicago by q NUM-
bor OF lines Of railroad, and those Aro under uo
legal requirements against special ratos. Tho re-
suit will bo TINT these foreign roals will take I'D
vantage Of our restrictions; and Chicago viii
hencoforth obtain it's bituminous coal, not from
1llinolB but principally from Indiana, only q
few of tho mines iH this State nearest to TINT city
being nhlo to compoto with tho special coutractf
OF tho Indiana roads. but our Railroad Com
missoaerB, as wo understand the new law, arc
poworless to afford any relief. After tho LIT ol
July all Bpoca! shipping contracsH must caaso,
no mattcr now seriously this cOlirBo may affcci
the great and growing coal intoroasa OF our
State. Wo fear tho consequences will bo most
disastrous, and result In widespread ruin.