West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-01-20

JULIUS, uoi PiStS'i ~ Seo~A "
floating debt.
The Winifrede railroad connects
with the Chesapeake Il Ohio railway
at Winifrede Junction, thirteen
miles east of Charleston. The pres
ent capacity of the mines is 1000
tons daily. OF this tonnage, prac-
tically not one pound goes over the
line of your road. In 1882 a freight
rate was accorded the above
coal company to Newport News and
Richmond. as follows: To Newport
News, 1925 per ton, and to Rich
mond ~ per ton for coal to be ship
ped from these points to the eastern
markets; and upon the assurance
that the rates were given in good
faith, and that they could take con
tracts based thereon, the coal COM
pany made sales and commenced
shipments, but Immediately upon
shipments being made freight rates
were advanced to So per ton to New
port News and 1915 per ton to
Richmond. 1t is for you to ascer-
tain whether or not freight rates Of
as low as $1.35 per ton on coal have
been accorded to Chesapeake d Ohio
Coal Agency or other favored par
ties.
The first vessel chartered { schoon
er Rebecca Florence, August, 1882, J
by the Winifrede Coal Company to
take coal to eastern markets, was
ordered to Newport News, and in
stead of Winifrede coal being put
therein, other coal probably that
belonging to the Chesapeake and
Ohio Coal Agency was given to
this vessel, and the Winifrede com
pany was requested to sell its coal,
shipped for the above purpose, to
the coal agency, and to permit the
substitution of other coal in anoth-
er vessel which it was proposed to
furnish in lieu of the vessel. taken.
This substitution of coal was posi-
lively declined. Thereupon, anoth-
err vessel was furnished, but the coal
company was told that the ship
ment of coal thereafter would have
to cease, rs the interests of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Coal Agency
conaicted with said business.
Therefore. after filling few exist
ing contracts, the Winifredc Coal
Company ceased practically to do
business over your line.
Within the last two weeks appli-
cation has been made by the Wini-
frede Coal Company for cars for the
shipment of coal daily has been ac-
corded. though an order for twenty
five cars daily was given (; and,
therefore, the Winifrede Railroad
Company, in consequence Of cars
not being furnished promptly and
IN quantity, asked that their own
cars, to the number of $50 (e:.ch
holding six tons, and similar in ev-
cry respect to the six ton coal cars
of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), be
forwarded. This proposition was
declined, Notwithstanding it was
proposed to waive all charges for
car service or wheelage thereon.
The reason gwen by General Wick
ham, receiver, for declining to ac-
cept coal in the Winifrede Railroad
Company's six-ton cars was that the
curves on the Elizabeth, Lexington
d Big Sandy division of the road
were sharp, and the grades heavy.
1t is well known fact that both the
Philadelphia and Reading and Le-
high Valley railroad companies use
thousands Of siX-ton coal cars, for
the reason that they can 90 around
sharper curve than ten, twenty,
or thirty-ton car. And 1T is unnec-
essarv to add that six ton car can
be hauled over grade which ten,
twenty or thirty-tOn car is unable
to surmount. The two Winifrede
companies above referred to have
spent upward Of 100000 in cash
on the line of your road, and it may
be surprise to You to know that
neither freight station nor ticket
agents station has been placed at
Winifrede Junction by your com
panv, the Winifrede Railroad Com
pany having accorded the above ia
cilities free of rent for the last four
years. 1t is fact that freight sta
tions and ticket offices have been
placed at points on the line of your
road where the population is not ex
ceeding twenty five people.
If committee of investigation is
appointed it might be well for them
to investigate.
First-The policy of continuing a
coal agency; the price at which coal
is bought and sold by them; the
freight rate earned by your com
pany upon said coal; commits
sions accorded said agency, sal
aries paid its officers and who com
prise the coal agency.
Second-Whether the Chesapeake
g. Ohio railway is practically a
transporter of coal, or buyer or
seller of the some through favored
parties.
Third-Whethe or not Mr.. Hunt
ington, in his desire to scale the
bonds, is simply seeking to borrow
r,opav of nor cent tn do a coal