Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-19
THE FORTY -MILELIMIT
Strong Arguments for and Against a
Reduction of the Radius.
CLAIMS OF THE THIN VEIN MEN.
Low Prices for Thick Coal Knocking Out
Their Western Trade.
A KNOTTY PROBLEM FOR RAILROADS

| PlttSburg district as pleaders, rather noVel
| court scene was enacted in the RenshaW
building, yesterday, at the 40-mile radius
discussion. The freight agents were seated
in row at one end of the building, and all
the arguments were directed to them.
Among those who acted as the judges were
General Freight Agent Stewart and Assist.
ant General Freight Agent C. L. Cole,
of the Pennsylvania Company; Vice Presi-
dent Orland Smith, General Freight Agent
c. S. Wright and Division Freight Agent
T. W. Galleher, OF the Baltimore
and Ohio; General Freight Agent Joyce,
of the Pennsylvania Railroad; General
Freight Agent Frank Dean, of the Lake
Erie; General Freight Agent Cromlish, of
the Pittsburg and Western; Division
Freight Agent Means, of the Panhandle,
and f. R. Mckay and George McCauge. of
the Lake Shore, in fact all the local roads
were represented on the bench.
The question involved is the reduction of
the 4O-mile'radius, and the issue is between
the thick and thin coal men. The thin coal
operators want the limit drawn at what they
claim is the geological line, meaning by that
the boundary in the district where the veins
pass from thin to thick.
AN ADVANTAGE CLAIMED.
The thin vein operators assert that the thick
vein men. by reason of sliding scale and nat
ural advantages, are able to produce coal at
from 25 to 36 cents per ton cheaper than the
thin vein operators, while the freight rates for
both are the same, thus placing the thin vein
people at disadvantage in the market.
At the meeting yesterday afternoon 1t must
q hn him UoIn hQ ha
best of the argument, their opponents relying
more on bluff and severe cross-questioning,
which amounted to little. The discussion was
always interesting and at times spirited. w.
2. De Armitt and Alexander Dempster made
the principal arguments in favor of reducing
the limit, and Messrs. Courtney. Osborne and
Bayne appearedfn the main for the other side.
slight squall was created when Ed Murphy,
of Bigley & Murphy, charged Mr.. Blythe, OF
the Shaner Coal Company, with acting no
honorable part in getting him to sign GER
tain petition on the formers representations.
1t appears that Mr.. Blythe started out as a
advocate of reduction, but at the meeting he
appeared on the other side. and Mr.. Murphy
scored him roundly. Mr.. Blythe, in answer,
him, and the matter dwindled down to ques-
tion of memory in the statement of facts be-
tween the two gentlemen.
Mr.. Murphy, who favOrS reducing the limit,
said at the close of the conference that he
didn't think anything would be done. He was
afraid the railroad men would listen and con-
slider, and then drop the subject, leaving the
limit as it now stood.
DEPENDS ON THE RAILROADS.
Mr.. De Armitt said he hadn't any idea what
would be done. He had presented his side of
the case, and the question was IN the hands of
the railroad men. If the limit is not changed he
said the thin coal operators would have to close
down their mines and go into the thick vein
district. There is no other solution to the diff
Guilty, so far as he could see. and the point at
issue is whether the capital invested in the
thin vein mines is to be protected or not.
In his argument for reducing the limit Mr..
De Armltt said that $4,000, 900 IN capital was
invested in thin vein mines, and it was put in
would protect the money. He asked the roads
to make the thick vein operators outside of the
proposed limit pay 20 cents per ton. This, he
competing basis. West Newton and Port Royal
have been:suggested as the limits on the Balti-
more and Ohio and PIttsburg, Virginia and
Charleston.
Mr. Walker, for the thick vein men, held that
the thin vein coal was by all odds the best, and
commanded better price in the market. He
claimed that 1t was the Hooking Valley coal
that was the serious competitor. At the Pitts
burg mines coal is loaded on the cars for 81 per
ton. The thick vein coal costs IS cents. In addi-
ton the Pennsylvania Company charges cents
per ton extra on the thick coal. He held that
the difference in cost, therefore, was not more
the superior quality of the thin vein coal would
more than make up for the difference.
MR.. DE ARMITT's CLAIM.
On the other hand Mr.. DeArmitt said the
market price was fixed by the thick coal opera
tors and he read a number of letters to show
that the thick coal was knocking out the thin
coal. The general tendency was toward the
cheaper article even If it is inferior and the
menace was so great that unless the railroads
came to their rescue and equalized freight
rates they would be forced to close down their
mines.
of the railroad men Colonel Orland Smith ap-
peared to be the most interested, and he asked
many questions. He tried to find out in what
the thick vein coal was replacing the
thin vein article in the market. Mr.. Murray
testified that he had seen great quantities Of
thick vein coal loaded at Cleveland but he
couldn't tell where it came from, and on this
point the other men were silent. Mr.. Dempster
said they could not say to what extent their
business was injured, but he knew they were
unable to compete against the present unequal
freight rates.
Mr.. Osborne, representing the thick coal con-
tingent, offered a motion that within short
time each operator within the radius furnish
the railroad with detailed statement of the
cost of production, including royalty, wages,
taxes etc., and the amount of coal shipped
within the last three years. The thin coal men,
being in the majority, tabled the motion indef- |
nitely.
SOME INSIDE FACTS.
In the course of the arguments some rather |
pertinent questions were asked about the in |
side workings of the various companies. Mr.. |
Courtney said the New York and Cleveland |
Coal Company had shipped 100000 tons in the |
last year. The Pennsylvania road is willing to |
make 30-mile radius, but this will close out |
some of the Lake Erie mines. and unless they |
are taken in the latter road will vote nay. |
Even at the proposed limit some mines will be |
eft out that will be placed at disadvantage, |
and some provision will be made for their pro- |
lection.
Immediately after the meeting the freight
agents held a short session. but nothing was
lone. The thin vein operators on the Baltimore
and Ohio have signed a petition to the effect |
that they are satisfied with the present limit
but Mr. De Armitt classified them as thick vein
men acting under the delusion that they be-
onged to the thin class. 1t is quite certain that
unless something is done a new scheme will be |
Iprung by the thin vein operators. They don't
threaten. but they may quietly decrease the
,oal tonnage of the railroads.
T. Burr Robbins acted as president and James
p Burke, the young stenographer, was the Sec
.etary.
Whoever Got Left
r /