New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-27
ASSEMBLY INVESTIGATIONS.


ton. Yesterday. before the Assembly committee in
yestipating the coal combination, concerning the
cost Of Transporting coal. The other Assembly
committee which is at work in this city cOnsid-
cred "repca,iug and canvassng IN Westchcster
County, and elected some interesting statements
COST OF COAL TRANSPORTATION.
TIE SECOND DAYS SESSION OF TIE ASSEMBLY COM
MuTEr-- TESTIMONY OF ,. b. THCBBFR AND
RECEIvtR JEwETT.
The Assembly Committee continued the IN
vest CATION coal combination yesterday, at the
ST. Nicholas Hotel Cyrus Prescott, chairman OF the
committee. presided. MI Brshn, counsel for several
OF the coal companies. varied the examination OF Wit
nesses By running fire Of objections, which were al
disregarded.
Francis H. rhurhcr testified that for fifteen years he
had been connected with the Arm OF H. h. and f. b.
Thurber & CO.. wholesale erocers. As member Of the
Board OF Trade and Transportation, he had given much
attention the question Of transportation; his estimate
OF the of carrying coal was based on BIS knowledge
of what was actually charged. and q the cost Of trans
porting other commodities. The coal companies claimed
that the cost ranged from q OF cent To Ia cents ton
per mile the actual cost, lie thought, much less
according TO the annual reports OF The coal companies
the average cos; Of transporting a ton OF coal
a mile on the Philadelphia and Eiie was 5'lO0 mi!Is
while the charge 77o,oo mills the cost on the Penn
sylvaua road was $500 mills, charge s'2i00 mills
Commissioner Fink WHO was wei informed on freight
questions had de caged that freight road with iul
traffic ton freight could he transported for three
M BrisOn dceisg to know what bearing the cost Of
transportacu lad the formation Of the coal comOna
ton
The chairman re5ronfe ed that tie Legislature would
determine this when NE committees report should be
submitted.
Mr. Brisbln-I respectfully submit hat the questions
put 10 Thrhcr irrelevant 20 the subject OF the
inquiry.
Mr Prescot--IAkc any other gentleman, you are ful-
" entitled 10 ypur opinion.
MI Thuracr sand that H. had positive knowledge OF
the coal combination Of 1873. The price so coal had
been advanced by the formation of the recent comOna
on before nc paid only IS % ton used for coal Tor
MANUFACTURING purposes few DAYS ago he pad - - "
Ton. tne opjulon was generally expressed that rates
World lie advanced sin higher when the large stock
held this cty worked oh hc got tis information
Cal tne witness said could be carried cbcaply
than any other hIj OF freight, 1t also cost ess 10 equip
coal ROAD than ordinary carrying road trth ne
reports Oi tAr railroads connected WIN tHt aHid'ilc
Board Of Cont.oi u was shown ina' 5g u, Ky DIR
very heavily calht'IZcd ms iotTtu t 10
rates for carving coal high II they would pas any m
tbis was a Z" fair rate" the Morris and Essex
the Delaware. LtcEawanna and western anu we
railroad experts said road could be butt through
ordinary country for $4,000 a iilie, an, ana
the Delaware. LscStw0End and western was callthzed
at the rate o. - 10000 mile he thought IT scaGstF
to pay Interest that; the Morris ard Essex had IA
New-JcrEev CcntrIi, liabilities on lO3 miles OF road
were $1 600 OCO and those OF Tire Deiavare and Iud
son Canal rpaHy for the same distance S33oU0OoO
I'm fact II business firm the position OF most o
the coal companies AID could mol iolm communal 91 ~
keep rates Of articles dealt H. lis failure WOMB DC
Here Mr. Brsbn desired 10 question the witness, but
the chairman refused 10 yield nm TINS rlgi ne WIS u
naly allowed TO puj questions L. NJ chairman Nhch ne
submitted 10 thc witness II he thought them proper
The greater number OF NJ, bIso'ns lnCiI' 2 i'fa
reached witness, ard the few that WelenGt htd ~
transit brought important facts Mr.: IAiubcr de
Clarcd that hc not voluntary witness Dut hd DC
subpGuaed Oh Monday mn, .,,
men sreIt tue afternoon in Iding upon the Elevated
Railway auI examining lis workings ana coNstrncuol
as IT wts expected Tat tbcg would nave TO deal VIVA
legislation Oh tins subject during t:c present session
RECEIVER JEwETT'S STATEMENTS.
At the evening session, Receiver Jewett, OF the Erie
Railway. testified that his rOad carried coal Tor the
PeunsyVana Coal Company, Delaware and hudson
Canal Company, and the Leigh valley Railroad tno
contracts with tie two former companies were made
before lie became receiver Of the company since hen
the coal traffic had become very much dlsorgonizcd;
t was impossible for those companies at Times 10 Fay
fbc rates ia The contracts in his Judgment he a.
ioWtd reduced ~ 20 retain the business OF tviHspor-
fatOu, az other companies were offering lower rates
This reduction applied. in part 10 lo77. -,
take into dcrauon; lie would ne sorry to d.
furnsn information that would aec; his business as
genera. tny tic expense Of aI ing Goa was iess man
the Erie hal an interest il the Iuuut Of sales, which
made Oh estimate determine The cost Of transporting
coal the Erie to his knowledge never gave
TO the PENNSYLVANIA Coat Company or other
companies the exclusive privilege 10 carry
coal over the road at certain rates
he had glanced the articles o. aeOatOn OF the An
thracite Of Control but Rad never formed )dg
10 effects OF the combination; he hoped "
would produce more uniformity IN the production and
sale ufcoal; il IL should speculative prices, he
thought il would defeat the object vi the oIlgnaors-
uniformity 81 prices. $780,. .
TIE Articles OF agreemcut OF The combination were
submitted Hr eNett hut he declined 10 make com
Inentary on that with which he was not lanihar. .
Other witnesses NOT having GPyedTt o. the
was adjourned subject TO tie cali ~ the chalf. VT.
Prescott stated TIE object OF the committee
10 get the testimony OF dealers coal aud those VINO
lad practical experience IN mining lie CouId MOI trlI
when the investigation would he rcaUned-lt ini2hi DC
IN a week day s, in this city Or il Albany.