Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-03-23
CArIraL Norrs
Railroad Commissioners ON sos. -,
Freight Rates.

Humphrey, Hon. A. r. Greene and Maio,
A. Gillett, full board with the follov.
ing railway representative and visitors
Mayor s. F. Nicely, of Leavenworth: ".
e. Thomas, OF the states mine: Sinner.
intendent ]. E. Car and J. Doualas.
Leavenworth coal company; Col. M.
Quigg, coal agent Santa Fe; John Row
ard, OF Keith & Perry, Kansas Civ: l..
B. Hynes, general freight agent Santa
Fe; j. A. Monroe, of Omaha. general
freight agent Union Pacific; F. B. Whit
ney, assistant general freight agent
Union Pacific, Kansas City; C. v. Lewis,
assistant general freight agent Missouri;
Pacific; Mr.. Hatch, of the Rich Hill Coal
& Mining company; NIL. Sargent, of
Kansas City, general freight agent Mem
phis route; Henry Isasce, representing
Usage county mines; D. Atwood, gem
eral freight agent Chicago, Kan
sas & Nebraska; Assistant Freight
Agent Cook, of the Santa Fe; I. G.
Hatch, representing the Missouri Pacifc
coal interests.
Judge Humphrey called the meeting
to order and said the board had to deal
with two propositions, one originating
with the Legislature in the adoption of a
concurrent resolution in which they char
acterize the present soft coal rates az ex-
horbltantly high and direct the board to
bring about reduction which will bring
Kansas coal within the reach Of tho peo-
pie Of the western part Of the state.
The second proposition originates with
the Lesvenworth Coal company, which
claims that an unjust discrimination Is
p.scticed against them. The railroad
men were invited here to discues the
whole question and say what reduction
could be made in justice to all. The
board would be required to formulate
final opinion and it was their wish to
harmonic all interests involved.
An hour was spent in informal dis
cussion and examination of maps and
tariffs, after which, as no one else seemed
inclined to talk, Judge Humphrey said it
would probably be necessary to formu-
late tariff not only in general but in
detail, and asked several questions as to
what disturbance certain changes would
create.
Mr.. Hynes, of the Santa Fe, said the
tariffs as they now stand, are the result
of years of experimenting. It would
create considerable disturbance to have
new rates put in effect in one section
and not in all. For instance, reduc-
ton between Leavenworth and Con-
cordia would drive Frontenac coal out of
competition. He said the representa-
tives of the Kansas roads had been in
session for the past six weeks trying to
adjust Kansas rates generally, and had
among other things discussed the coal
rates. They had finally left the tariff
just as it was last year. There was no
friction between the roads on this tariff
as there probably would be with a new
one.
Mr.. Hynes said some reduction might
be made by his road to western consum-
ere, but he did not know that it would
benefit the consumers any, as the bulk
of their coal came from the west. There
had been big reduction in the past two
years. he explained why it would not
be profitable to haul west bound coal at |
rates which would pay very well on east |
bound coal. In the latter case it would |
avoid hauling empty cars, while going !
west their cars are all filed with mer-
chandise.
Mayor Nicely, speaking for the Leav~
enworth company, among other things |
said that the idea was to Cypress the |
Leavenworth coal companies. He ad-
mitted that the time had been when the
discrimination was much more against
them than at present when they had
practically been confined to local mar
ket. They are now reaching out little,
but the discrimination still restricts their
field. BE gave some figures showing
that the rates were much higher on coal
in one direction than another over the
same road, etc.
Mr.. Monroe, of the Union Pacific,
raised the point that the Legislative res
olution contained nothing in regard to
king the price at which dealers should
'ell coal, and in the discussion that fol-
owed, it was claimed that while the rail-
'oads had steadily been reduced for the
past few years, as soon as winter came
IN the operators and coal dealers threw
'side all care for the suffering settler and
made every dollar they could on their
,oal.
TWAS finally determined that the
BOARD should go ahead and formulate
uch q revised tariff as in their opinion
he exigencies of the occasion might 10
luire, and upon the completion Of thar
york should notify the railroad repre-
entatives to meet them again, inspect
heir figures and try to arrive at hsr-
nonious adjustment of the matter. The
Meeting then adjourned subject to the
all of the board.
At the annual meeting Of the stock,
lolders of the Topeka Garden Tool Man
featuring company, @. @. Hunter wss
lected as president; G. Z. Holiday, il,
ice president; w. F. Hunter. Treasurer: