Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-23
A CHANGE IN THE RATES
By the Railways, to the Disgust of
Hooking Valley Operators.
THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NO SHOW
In the Lake Trade, and That Everybody
Will Purchase Here.
FIGURES on THE INCREASED BUSINESS

the Monongahela House yesterday the
diferential of cents against Pittsburg
coal in favor of the Hooking Valley
was wiped out A straight rate OF S5 cents
per ton on lake coal only and 81 o211 from
West Virginia was made to the lake ports.
The latter rate is an advance of 215 cents
over the present one.
For the first time Pittsburg and Hooking
Valley coal has been put on the same basis
by the railroads. The freight differential
originally was much larger, but in 1884, at
the introduction of natural gas, it was cut
down to 25 cents. After steady fight for
eight years the Pittsburg operators have
finally been able to remove all handicaps
against them, and they expect to end the
year with largely increased tonnage to
their credit. The Pittsburg operators left
the hotel with smiles on their faces, while
the Hooking Valley men professed to be
very painfully surprised and depressed in
spirits.
Spoiled the Regulation of Prices.
1t worried them to such an extent that an
association of Ohio operators that had been
formed during the dav to maintain prices
disintegrated as suddenly as snow before
the warm vernal sun. At least. this is
what their leaders said According to the
claims of the Hooking Valley operators, the
reduction in freight rates is a big thing for
Pittsburg coal They say the market is at
the feet of the local operators, and it will
be useless for them to try to COM
pete. The brunt of the shock, how
ever. tails on the Hooking Valley
Al
President Waite was nonplussed, but he
could see no way out of the hole. In short,
this is the position of the Hooking Valley
men as they outlined it last evening:
The Pittsburg people misrepresented
our shipments for the year They claimed
our increase last season was 100000 tons.
According to the figures furnished
bv the Ohio Coal Traffic Association, the
Hooking Valley tonnage fell off 43, 600 TONS
This reduced freight rate means that our
shipments will be greatly reduced this
year. Some of our people and both miners
and shippers and buyers of coal. As soon
as the result was announced a few of the
latter made large contracts with the Pitts
burg operators. 1t doesn't make any
difference to them where they buy, and
now Pittsburg and Hooking coal can be
delivered at the lake front for the same
COST
What Pittsburg Will Gain.
One shipper of Hooking Valley coal de-
clared that it meant difference of $50, 900
tons in favor of Pittsburg for the year, so
far as he was concerned personally, and an
other said he bought 1000 tons of Ohio |
coal last season, but that amount would |
come to Pittsburg in 1892. A third Hook |
ing Valley operator remarked that he |
owned a mine, but he handled annually |
600, 900 tons of coal besides along the lakes. |
He bought Ohio coal because it was cheap,
bnt this year the local operators hold the |
whip handle, and he would purchase from |
them. At first it was suggested that
rates could be cut, but the Ohio roads
are too poor to engage in |
fight which would swamp
them in the end The Hooking Val |
lev road is loaded down with SIG, 600, 900 in
bonds, and the company must pay annually
81, ,0000 900 in fixed charges. The bulk of
their business is coal, and it can be seen
how the new arrangement will injure the
line. 1t would be useless for the Hooking
Valley to fight roads as powerful as the
Pittsburg lines.
This was how the Hooking Valley operators
talked. They appeared to be badly demoral-
|
elated, though they appreciate the reduc-
tion of 5 cents. They claimed the Ohio
people were talking for effect. To-day the
coal men from the three States will meet at
the Morongahela House to try to agree on
a selling price. In the past difference of
25 cents was allowed for Ohio coal on ac-
count of its inferior quality The cut in the
freight rate reduces it 20 cents with present
conditions continuing.
In a Very Humble Mood.
The Hooking Valley operators are now
on their knees, and they do not feel sure
that the Pittsburgers will grant them any
concessions. Even if differential of 25
cents is allowed, they claim they have no
assurance that it will be maintained.
Patrick McBryde, Secretary of the United
Mine Workers, is in the city. He was at
the Monongahela House yesterday, urging
the Pittsburg operators to agree to resto-
ration of the Interstate agreement He
said the Ohio coal owners to man are
willing, but the West Virginia opera
tors have positively refused to
come in. Colonel w. P. Rend thinks
the agreement should be restored He
states that it was great blessing to men
and operators He claims it was broken by
the miners, but they were misled by their
leaders. He has faith in the integrity of
John and Patrick McBryde, and he believes
the miners are sincere in their declaration
to do the square thing in the future. +
Mr.. McBryde said many of the Pittsburg
operators received his offer favorably, and
he believes an agreement about wages will |
be made between the Ohio and Pennsylva-
MIA coal men. Colonel Rend thinks the
present rates of mining in force now in both |
States X he noI for har