New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-07
WARNING ON COAL RATES.
CUTTING THAT STIMULATED TRADE.
TIE BALTIMORE AID ONO AND PENNSYLVANIA
MONS Al TOGGTRITEADS,

TIE BALTIMORE AID ONO AND PENN9 Nv ANA
ROADS AT LOGGERHEADs.
A severe war OF freight rates on coal traffic
has been raging between the Pennsylvania and the Bal
tmore and Ohio Railroads since the beginning OF the
year. In tho closing months OF last year cutting was be-
gun secretly bnt 1t did not reach large proportions until
last January. 1t is difficult to ascertain the OK
tent to which rates have been reduced, as the
cuts arc made "a secretly possible, as Is
usual in railroad wars The result, however
is in the heavy drop in the price OF the coal that
comes from the districts whose business the two trunk
lines competing for. There is every indication that
the war will become more bitter
prominent coal man. acquainted with tho inside facts
said yesterdays " The contest is confined to the semi
biumInous coal trade OF the two companies The Penn
sylyania road transports the coal from the Clearhed
County regions while the business OF the Baltimore ana
Ohio road comes from the Cumberland region in
Maryland. For years President Garrett OF
tho Baltimore and Ohio, has pursued q
policy Of high rates on his coal traffic, with
the result Of arresting its Development and actually
reducing production. The Cumberland district Is the only
coal district in the United States which actually shows an
absolute decrease I'm production compared with ten years
ago In 1873 the shipments from the Cumberland region
amounted to 26741O1 tons they fell to 154O466 tons
In ss2. and last year amounted to only 25i4,173 TONS
1919 1923 tons less than the total In 1873. or the entire
product the Baltimore aud Ohio carried 17sO7 tons IN
1873. and only 1O8j 249 tons in 1882, and 144l766
tons In 1893 On the other hand the pennsylvania road
which reached the Cumberland region with branch line
in 1872 has increased its tonnage from 22021 to 4l02SS
tons in 1888 The Baltimore and Ohio last year charged
freight rates this coal high they were twenty
four years ago. These high rates have been maintained
in the face Of the fact that instead OF wcnytOn lOcoo
tive engines then they have sxtyton engines now, and
In place of cars OF capacity OF five tons they have cars
Of a capacity of thirty tons, and in spite Of the replace
ment OF iron with steel rails and other improvements
which have decreased materially the cost OF operating
railroad As consequence OF this short-sighted policy
not only has the output of the Cumberland fields fallen
off, but there Is not rst-class mandatory between
Cumberland and Baltimore.
"On the other hand" continued THE TRBUSE's Inform
ant the Pennsylvania has encouraged the development
Of It's Clear1ed County coal fields by regular reduc
ton from year year Not only has it attracted
capital develop those coal lands but il has secured all
the contracts for foreign steamers in the harbor OF New
York ana made serious inroads into the anthracite trade
OF New-England. While tho Baltimore and Ohio ha3
charged cent a ton mile on it's coal traffic, the Penn
syvana has charged only five mills per ton per mile aud
at times has made the rate as low three mills Mr. Gar
rct has at last awakened to the importance OF saving
his coal trade and il meeting tho Pennsylvania
raes, besides building 900 coal Of a capacity
Of from twenty to twenty-five net tons and IN other ways
increasing the facilities Of his road for handling the
traffic. The effect OF the Is seen ia the decline in the
price OF semi bituuuOus coal the lowest figures il
sold This coal be delivered in Boston haIbOr at
81 per ton against cost OF IS % per ton to lay down
anthracite there. The shipper OF Cumberland coal can
the prospect Of driving anthracite out OF the
steamproducng trade Of the seaboad This coal has
per Of volatile matter not until the percentage OF
volatile substances rises above 20 per cent is coal cassed
as bumlnous 10 IS claimed that this Cumberland and
Clearied coal can DE mined Cheaply than anthra
cite and IL Is better fuel fOTseamcr and manufacturing
uses The stimulus of the war can be in the ncreas
ing shipments Of seml-btuminous coal this year.