Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-03
A MILLION In TRADE
That Would Come to Pittsburg if the
River Was Free and 1t Had
BETTER RAILROAD FACILITIES.
GiSt Of an Argument Made Before the
Chamber of Commerce.
SEVERAL NEW MEMBERS ELEClED

The Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce met
for the first time in the new rooms in the
Germania Bank building yesterday aft er-
noon. There were a number OF matters OF
interest brought up, the most important
being embodied in letter written by < NJ
Grant, of Morgantown. He very prac-
tically shows how Pittsburg would draw
5000, 900 annually in new trade If Pitts
burg had direct railroad facilities to the
Upper Monongahela valley.
Mr. Grant also calls attention to the fact
that Pittsburg is entitled to free river.
He saws, and is backed up by other good
authority, that there is no law allowing
toll to be collected on interstate freight.
Large Pittsburg coal operators are also OF
this opinion. Mr.. Grants communication
is as follows:
Two Things Very Necessary.
There are two things your body could ae-
complish right speedily, that would result in
over 81 OOOO 900 annually in new trade to Fits
burg 1t is wonderful the business men OF
Pittsburg have not determined years ago TO
accomplish them.
one is a direct railroad communication be-
tween Pittsburg and theUpper Monongahela
Valley by way of the Baltimore and Ohio and
Brownsville or Washington, Pa. At least
lOGOOO) of trade from the State line clean
TO the Little kanawha now goes to Baltl-
more the East and Wheeling, that would
rather trade in Pittsburg, if the rail-
road communications were direct and
could be reached in the same length of time.
A determined and concerted push on part
of Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce upon
the railroad officials would see this remed1ed
this season. We are at work at this end OF
the line and want help.
h.osN tl,aar., Z f4nr. iS frna
absolutely no law or right allowing toll to be
collected on Interstate freight am IN
formed by the best constitutional lawyers
that there is no question OF doubt but the
Supreme Court will so decide should it ever
90 to them. The big coal men of Pittsburg
should bring a test case. All the tolls
they have paid in the last six years
can be re-collected, that is on coal
shipped out of the State. This is worth
millions to Pittsburg. Knock them out on
the interstate freight and they Will pc glad
TO have the Government take their claim at
half cost. The people of Pittsburg will get
the benefit in cheaper coal.
The Coal Exchange Interested.
The communication was well received by
the Chamber and ordered to be placed in
the hands of the Committee on Transporta-
tion and Railroads.
This is matter that is constantly grow
ing in interest with the coal operators The
Pittsburg Coal Exchange has had the ques-
IlOu DeiOTe IL lOE SOLlc llut. IcSbtIudl
afternoon one of the largest operators in |
Pittsburg was seen. When told of the COM |
munication he said:
believe Mr.. Grant is correct. l do not |
think we should pay tolls on Interstate /,
freight. ! have asked a number of lawyers |
myself about the constitutfonality OF the |
matter, and the most of them agree with |
Mr.. Grant. The Coal Exchange is now at |
work trying to get a test case before the |
Supreme Court.
think it will be only matter of a few |
years until che Government owns all the |
dams. 1t should be so. 1t now has No !, and /
there is a possibility of several more COM
ing into its control soon.
Referred to a Committee.
The California State Nicaragua Canal
Commission sent q communication to the
Chamber, asking it send delegate to the
Nicaragua Canal Convention to be held in
ST. Louis, June 2 There proper means for
the building of this waterway will be dis
cussed. The letter was referred to the
proper committee.
The matter of improving the Mississippi
was given little attention. The CommIs-
sion having it in charge sent circular ask
ing for the Endorsement of the Chamber.
The following new members were elected:
Whitney s. Stephenson, William T. Nichol-
son, W. H. Keech, Peter Keil & Son, Can
onsburg Iron and Steel Company, William
Anshutz, James L Buchanan, DR.. E. A.
Wood and E X. Hum & Co.