Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-09
RAILROADS AND COAL.
Mines Farthest From the Lakes and Easiest
Worked Pay the Lowest Freight Rates
.-COmpetinE Lines and SmaIl-Fry
Roads Delighted to See the Pennsy

Roads Delighted to See the Fennsy
Pitched Into, Yet Afraid to
Peep for Publication.
At least some railroad men are found
who admit that the Pennsylvania road has
been discriminating against Pittsburg; but
as the fight is not their own, they have no
desire to appear in print as the champions
of the shippers.
The coal operators have been complaining
of unjust Determinations for some time.
The decision of the Interstate Commission
in favor Of the railroads in the Imperial Coal
Company's case was a severe blow to those
who had banked on a different ruling.
The coal men claim that they haven't made
anything in the business for two years, and the
refusal of the roads to give them better rates
only adds to their misery. Within what is
known as the 40-mile radius Of Pittsburg all the
lake shippers in this territory given the same
rates to Cleveland: that is, coal operator 40 miles
up the Pemickey road doesn't pay any more to
have his coal sent to Cleveland than the operator
at CHARTERS. The coal men would have no fault
to find with this arrangement If they were equally
situated; but here is where the milestone grinds.
burg. Virginia and % Charleston roads are u higher
up the coal IS softer and easier mined than the
Pittsbure, Virginia and Charleston operators pay
less for their mining, and. favored by the rail-
rOaQS DeSl0e5, Jney are aDle TO more Lnhn compete
with the other lake shippers less favoraby situ-
ated. The latter are outspoken against the rail-
roads, and hold that the operators further re-
moved from the lake than themselves should pay
more freight than they do.
A merchant had occasion to ship goods into
jefferson county from Pittsburg not long ago. He
went to the railroad people, and they gave him an
excessive rate.
''Why this is exorbitant,'' said the shipper in
astonishment.
';Bpt we can't dc, any better, ~ persisted the
freight agent; land we will get your business
anyhow; you mt send it on any other road"
''Rather than be feeced in this manner, " re-
piled the merchant 81 will show you whether
can't do better. can order the goods from Phila-
dephia and have them sent from that city over
| the Philadelphia and Erie road, and your line
won't get cent, and it won't cost me as much. -
When the agent saw the man meant business,
| he reduced the rate like flash. This is only an
| example Of how Pittsburg merchants are treated
| by roads in the State having no competition.
! Plenty of such incidents are picked up by re-
| porters every day.
| The attack of Mr.. Carnegie on the Pennsyl-
vania road is enjoyed with sort of ghoulish glee
by that lines competitors, and, when an attempt
made to put them in the same boat it is surprfs-
| ing what mental agility they can display in de-
| Tending the Pennsylvania's position as well as
| their own. ''You can tramp on my neighbor' s
| corns as much as you please, but don't trod on
mine, for heavens sake!'' is the secret of their
policy. Reporters are given stacks of figures and
statistics for their information; but, like the
| faces of Turkish women, these valuable facts
| must not appear in the newspapers with names OF
| railroaders attached.