The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-01-26
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.

Mcssrs. j. G.. McGrew and j. NJ.
SeaweIi IL Co, have flied with the rail
road commissioners the following COM
plant which they propose shall be
acted upon. even though it may re-
quirG a mamdamus To compel it. The
matter is of vital Importance to the
business interests OF our city and is
fully set forth in the complaint which
we copy belo ~ =
COMPLAINT.
In the mater OF complaint of =. &.
McGrew and j. NJ Seawell Il Co.,
complainants, VS.. The Missouri Pacific
Railway Company,
COmplainants state that they are
engaged in the business of operating
coal mines at and near Lexington, in
Lafayette county, on the line of the
Mo. Pacific Railway Co, and in ship
ping over said road, and in selling the
product of their mines at Kansas city.
That Lexington is "a distance OF forty
miles from, and east OF, Kansas City,
and that the mines OF compliments
are situated on said road Mt the follow
ing distances, respectively:-J. Nj.
Seawell 81 Co, at Wellington, SO miles
from Kansas City; j. G. McGrew, two
mines at Lexington, 81 miles from
Kansas City: j. G. McGrew, one mine
at Lexington, 40 miles from Kansas
City.
That the Mo. Pacific Railway Co.
now charges and collects for the trans
portation of Goa a rate of G5 cents per
ton from all the mines Of complainants
to Kansas City.
That the said rates for transportation
of coal from said locality over said
road to Kansas City, as established,
and as charged and collected by said
Mo. Pacific Railway Co., and as speci-
fed upon the schedule of rates made
and published by said railway company
are unreasonable, unjust and extor-
tionate; are far in excess, proportion
ately, of the rates charged by said
railway company for longer distances
over the Same road in the same direc-
ton: and are far in excess, proper
tionately, OF the rates charged by other
railway companies, both i'll this state
and adjoining states, for the same and
greater distances; and far i'll excess Of
the rates now actually charged by said
nv tn nthnp Ghin,nr- - ,hn pa-,n
lOca ity.
That all the mines Of complainant
are situated in the Lexington coal
fields, and are nearer the market
at Kansas City than any other coal
fields either in Kansas or Missouri, the
nearest other Goa field being over twice
the distance from Kansas City.
That the nearness to market of said
Lexington coal fields, if compliments
could secure as advantageous rates,
proportionately, as are accorded by
said company to other shippers
III other localities, and in the
same locality, would enable complain
ants TO conduct their mines with profit
and compete in market at Kansas City
with mines located less advantageousIy,
but that said eXtortionate rates so
charged by said company uniustly aud
unreasonably discriminate against COM
plaInants, III favor OF the longer haul,
and against the shorter haul, so that
competitors situated at a greater dis.
lance from market are given undue ad-
vantage, are enabled to undersell com
plainants, and that co~Inplaiuants, solely
on account thereof, are unable to com
pete in the market of Kansas City with
competitors i'll this and adjoining states
situate at Il distance three and four
times greater from Kansas City, and
c0mplalnants are deprived of their
natural advantages of nearness and
close proximity to said market at Kan
sas City.
Complainants charge that said Mo.
Pacific Railway company, its officers
and agents are themselves engaged
i'll h business of mining and selling
coal in said Lexington coal fields, and
tor The purpose Of breaking down the
business OF all private competitors who
undertake TO engage in business OF
mining and selling coal, aud for the
purpose OF obtaining absolute momop
oily and control of the entire Goa bust
ness III said locality, said railway COM
pany charges, collects, demands and
receives said unreasonable, unjust and
eXtorlloilate rates of transportation
solely Tor the purpose of unlawiully
expressing complaimamts and other
private shippers and producers and
compelling them to abandon said bust
ness in said locality, and SO enable said
railway company, its officers, agents
and managers 10 monOpOiize the same.
Compartments state that n rate of 40
cents per ton for the transportation OF
coal from Lexington or Myrick or Wei.
lington 10 Kansas City. Mo-, oven the
line of said Missouri Pacific Railway
Company would be q just and reasona
BILE rate as contemplated by law, aud
would be a rennnerative rate 10 said
railway company, as based upon
charges now actually made by said
railway company Tor longer distances
over the same road III the same direc-
ton, and as evidenced by the rates
charged by other railway companies
into Kansas City both in this state and
IN adjoining states for the same and
greater distances; as well as further
evidenced by the TACT that said Mo. z.
railway company is now actually grant.
ing Il lower rate han 65 cents per ton
to a Jew favored shippers, aud is car
rylng coal from the Lexington coal
fields at said lower rates.
wherefore, complainauts ask that
yOnr honorable board of railroad COM
missioners may give the matters and
rates herein complained OF a full and
thorough Investigation, aud may pro-
cced to graft to compliments the re-
lief herein prayed. AS contemplated
and provided in Sections l, Is, l6a,
lob, l6c, and Section 20 of an Act to
Regulate Railroad Corporations, APP
proved July ), 1887.
j. &. MCGREw,
j. NJ SEAwELL & Co.
Kansas City, January 10, 50.
Our voice is Tor the honor of our
country. Our wish is arGently for
peace.