Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-02-20

he had to obey orders. Switchmen
said if they disobeyed McGrew they
would be discharged. believe then
paid 81 O5 per ton. l heard about
December 16, last, that there was q
combination to crush out all the small
dealers. The company now sells to
consumers, but will not sell to dealers.
If coal is sold at Kansas City at 9 cents
it will crush out owners of coal lands
here. 1t is . notorious fact that the
railroad company is engaged in the
coal business. The railroad company
said in its letters to me that it could
not carry coal for less than
So cents per ton which was
falsehood, for it was carrying coal then
at 60 cents. Mr.. Lemist said to me at
the time of my settlement that the
Wabash had takem McGrew's chutes
away from him at Camden, that they
would keep him out of Kansas, and
that they would beat HIM yet. The
Lexington coal company and the rail-
road have always tried to drive me out
of the coal business, and to monopolize
all of the trade.
JAMES NJ. SEAWELL.
My mines are about 2 miles above
Wellington. My coal is hauled back
to Lexington and weighed and they
charge me from Lexington. pay one
half cent royalty, four-and-a-halt for
digging; it costs near cent to keep
up mines. The railroad charges
cents for hauling. 1 have to sell at 10
or IL cents at Kansas City. Every
discrimination possible ia made in
favor of the coal company in taking
out cars, setting IN empties and in
every other way. Coal can't be dug
here and sold at Kansas City at cents
and pay cents for hauling.
THOMAS B. sEAwELL.
l sell James ScawelPs coal at Kan
sas City. The railroad and coal compa-
nies are practically the same. asked
Bolon to sell me coal. He said he
would if would take GO cars. went
out and made arrangements so could
do so and came back, when he said he
would only sell it to me II l would
take hundred. The railroad threw
every obstacle in my way, in furnish
ing cars aud in switching at Kansas
City. The yard master told me he
had orders to give the coal company
cars first. tried some time ago to
buy piece of coal land from Mr.. II.
g. Wallace. He advised me not to buy
it as the railroad company and coal
company were one and that they would
not let me make any money
out of it. The coal dealers in Kansas
City and the other coal operators ought
to have equal rights with the coal COM
pany.
". 8. CLAGETT.
McGrew & Clagett did not make any
thing on orders given the men; sold to
them at same price as to other people;
McGrew charged for cash advances 10
per cent. Did not want the men to
borrow even at that, as it was trouble
somo to him.
T. b. CLAGETT.
l am paying q royalty to the coal
company of I Of cent per bushel on
the coal dig for the Lexington city
market. The railroad company would
have to build mile and half of rail-
road to make the coal 1 am mining
available to them.
JOHN LoNGDoN.
When McGrew was forced to sell his
stock at Is cents the stock was worth
more than par. / had previously Of
fered to buy all the other shares. n in
number, at par. They would not listen
to the proposition.
The defense then introduced
MR. JAMES A. R0TON
1 am coal dealer in Kansas City;
have been for q number of years;
have several coal yards; 1 buy coal by
the car load from Rich Hill, McAlister
and Lexington Coal Companies; L
have the exclusive sale of the coal from
these companies at Kansas City; pay
for the coal, and I pay the freight on
it. If there is profit get it; if there
is loss it is mine. Ipay Is cents per
ton freight from Lexington. get no
rebate. 1.-THE witness declined to
publicly state how much Lexington
coal he had bought, or what
he paid for his coal, as he
said it would injure his business;
and especially so during this cut; but
he said he would tell the commission
ers privately. This was objected to !
l have no contract with the companies;
but have built up this business; and
the coal companies would hardly sell 10
anyone else at Kansas City without my
consent. Keith & Perry commenced
the cut, but will stay with them.
There was combination In Kansas
City to keep up prices; Keith was
president, was vice president. 1.
want to give them so much cutting that
if they 60 into the combination again
they will stay in. am not fighting to
keep rates up. But if other roads fol-
low reduction on the Missouri Pacific
it will not effect the cut. If they did
not would just pocket the difference.
l did not sell MIR. Metsker coal because
did not have enough Lexington coal
on hand; probably had more orders
for it than could fill. Illinois coal
sells at IL cents; Lexington coal is as
good for heating purposes.
Mr.. Ports announced that owing to
other business he could not remain any
longer in Lexington, and the ccmmis- g
sion adjourned, Friday evening, Feb,
ruary II. to Jefferson City, to meet
there at an early day, probably next
week, when the remainder of the rail-
road g witnesses will be heard.