Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-13
OUR MAIL POUCH.
How the Subject of Free Rivers and Free
Navigation Concerns the People of the
Mopongahela valIey-Those Whom the
Change Would Rpupfit.

How the Subject of Free Rivers and Free
Navigation Concerns the People of the
MononRahela Valley-Those Whom the
Change Would Benefit.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Our good friends, the Monongahela Naviga-
tion Company, have been over at Washington
in the person of their attorneys, presenting
their side of the question at issue. Messrs
Shiras and Carnahan rank with the most dis
tinguished attorneys at the Pittsburg bar and
if they failed to make out good case the fail
ure would be with their cause and not the able
attorneys Let it be distinctly understood that
the contention between the navigation COM
pany and the river men, arises from the i'm
provement and free navigation of the Kanawha.
creating a competition that Pittsburg shippers
cannot. in these times of close margins. meet
under the disadvantages of toll charges and a
longer and more expensive navigation. The
contention is, therefore, an enforced one.
Rivermen admit the improvement is valuable
and that the stockholders ought to be paid.
We fix no price, and enter into no contest on
this point This we leave to Congress courts,
as the case may be. We have asked and still
ask the Government to purchase the entire
plant the sooner the better, but we do not as
sumo to dictate-we only petition.
1t is admitted that, had it not been for the
improvement the coal trade, as it is to-day on
1t will also be admitted if it not for the coal
trade there would be no slackwater improve
ment, and no IL per cent dividends, and also. If
it had not been Tor this toll. charging improve
ment, and the claims of the stockholders, there
would exist in its place, an improved river and
free navigation, as on the Kanawha.
Mr.: Carnahan informed the committee that
coal lands had gone up from $50 to 5000 and $500
per acre. No doubt the improvement has in
times past, added to the price of coal lands.
But the question to be solved is this: Can pay
$500 per acre for coal lands and then pay addi-
tionally 5000 per acre in the way of tolls, and
compete with the non-toll paying shippers
from Kanawha. one-half nearer the mar
EstY ESars But b nth this avegmsns not true
Lock No. to the State line that can be sold
for $780, but thousands of acres in pools No.
8 and can be purchased for 500 and $50. But
OF coal will be 5000 and $500 per acre, and Mr.
Carnahan's averment becomes true. Still, if
the Improvement has in times past developed
the coal trade and increased the price of coal
lands, it is just as true that to-day. under the
changed conditions brought about by free
Kanawha, the cost of transportation on this
Improvement is decreasing the price of coal
lands and destroying the coal trade. MIR. Car
nahan's pedestrian feat, in walking across the
Monongahela river in primeval times bare
footed might have been duplicated on the
Kanawha, and yet that river, like the Monon-
gahela, Is improved. and yet navigation is free
-barefooted exploits to the contrary notwith-
standing. Long before the navigation COM
pany was born the writer Travelled the Monon-
gahela on good-sized passenger steamboats,
Goal barons" is a cunning phrase, used for
like purpose as the term ''robber barons'' in
tariff literature. The cold facts are these:
During inflated war times about one dozen Of
firms made large money. Since then some of
these firms have become insolyent, and to this
day there are not more than four or five firms
that can be called "barons"-all the rest are
"barren." If any of these firms have added to
their wealth since Immediately after the war,
it has been from investments outside of the
coal trade.
When these attorneys say, sit is a very small
band of coal men who are in opposition" they
are mistaken. The large and respectable asso-
citation of miners is opposed to toll charges on
river commerce. The thousands of working
men of the Monongahela Valley, dependent
directly or indirectly on the coal trade. are op-
posed; the merchants of the valley are in oppo-
sition; farmers owning coal land are opposed
in fact, the entire valley, except stockholders
and employees of the company, are opposed.
1t must be apparent with the improvement
and free navigation of other rivers, the open
ing up of other coal fields, and near markets by
rail, that tie future of the Monongahela Val
ley is in great peril and hence river men are
willing to join the Navigation Company in a
joint appeal to Congress to Immediately pur-
chase the entire plant by paying the stock
holders fair and liberal price.
FREE NAVIGATION.
PITTsBURG, March IL.