Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-17
OUR COAL is KING.
No Other Can Begin to Approach 1t
in the Realm of Gas-Making.
INDIANA BLOCK COAL WILL BURN,
And Chicago Has to Use 1t as Home Fuel,
Because It's Cheaper.
DEMAND FOR LOWER FREIGHT RATES


| DISPATCH from Chicago concerning the
| high freight rates on Pittsburg coal to that
| city have been read with considerable interest
by the local coal operators. There are not
many firms left who are shipping coal to the
Windy City, though they used to do it
formerly. Among the coal men seen for
further information on the subject was j.
Morton Hall, of the Pittsburg and Chicago
Gas Coal Company. Mr.. Hall was formerly
General Freight Agent Of the Valley road,
and is competent to discuss the question of
freight rates.
Everything in THE DISPATCH tele-
grams from Chicago" he began, "about
Pittsburg coal is correct. 1t is so complete
that there isn't much to add. If we had
reduction in the freight rate of 30 cents, or
even 25 we would be better able to compete
with the Indiana and Illinois operators.
The railroads are making a great mistake
in neglecting the great coal fields in this
territory. They could make more money
by lowering the rate and carrying larger
quantities.
NOT EXACTLY BELIEVED.
"It is useless to say that by giving coal a
on all articles. Nothing more should be
placed on a commodity than it can bear,
and the present rates on Pittsburg coal are
too much. They are driving us out of the
Chicago market, which is extensive.
Indiana block coal is used the most now
in that city. If the Pittsburg rates were cut
little similar concession would have to
be made to the Hooking Valley operators.
''The problem is coming down to the point
of lessening the cost of production by the
use OF machines, but the question is what
to use. There are several IN the market,
but they are too heavy, and can't be moved
around in the mines with the freedom de-
manded. The man who can make a light
machine that will do the work will make
fortune. Miners are very scarce in this sec
ton, and it is useless for Colonel Rend to
deny that he is importing colored men into
the field. 1 know that he is"
Another large operator, whose works are
located on the Panhandle road, said: "Be-
fore the days of the Interstate commerce
law we used to ship coal to Chicago, but the
freight rates have knocked us out. They
are 80 high that we can't compete any
longer, and we have been forced to seek other
markets.
A SLIGHT REDUCTION ASKED.
"a reduction in freight rates from 50 %
to 81 75, or even 50 per ton, would make it
possible for us to compete, but the railroad
men are afraid if they do this the Western
roads will meet it. The Indiana block coal is
used in Chicago for domestic purposes,
and it will do almost as we'll as Pittsburg
coal. This is also true of coal burned in
making steam. The only use left is for gas
purposes. and the Pittsburg coal is king in
this respect. No, the coal shipped to Chi
cago from Pittsburg now is only a drop in
the bucket to what used to be sent"
care the Eastern markets open to the
local coal men?"
"Yes, to some of them, but the freight
rates debar the Panhandle operators. If
wish to ship East 1 must pay the rate to
Pittsburg, and then I can't compete with
the Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston
operators. but these same operators can get |
the same rate west to Chicago that do.
"For example, my mines are located 20 |
miles out the Panhandle. P, V. & C coal, |
40 miles further East than am located, |
passes my mines every day and meets my |
coal on the same basis, but when try to |
turn the tables and attempt to get East |
am asked by the roads to pay an additional |
rate.
THE OLD PROBLEM AGAIN.
"But this Is the old problem of reducing
the 40-mile radius, and the roads have re- |
fused to do this. There is nothing fair in
this"
The railroad freight agents never care to
discuss rates with any class of producers,
when a reduction is asked for |
For this reason they are offhand in their re-
marks, and deal in generaEties. A Balti-
more and Ohio man claimed that as much
Pittsburg coal was going to Chicago these
days as ever, but when the coal men were
asked about it they wanted to know from |
what mines 1t was taken. The agents claim |
that the rates are reasonable, and that it is |
impossible to make them any lower.
To add to the trouble OF the local coal |
men within the past two years, there has
been so much water that river coal was re-
shipped by rail from Cincinnati to Chicago
at 50 Is per ton, while Pittsburg coal can't |
be sold there for less than S3. Consider
able of the Kanawha river production also
is now finding its way into the Windy City
markets.