Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-22
COAL MEN SQUEAL.
THE WHEELING AND LAKE ERIE AND The
IL. & ". ROADS
Have the Inside Track On the Western Psrnsylya-
MA 0psratOrS-Ths Latter Call for
Help in the Fight

The long-existing differences between
the railroad coal operators of Western
Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, and
their combined grievance against the
Wheeling and Lake Erie and Cleveland,
Lorain and Wheeling Railroad Compan-
les, was the cause of largely attended
gathering of interested parties at the
Monongahela House, Pittsburg, yester-
day. The old differences between the
Pennsylvania and Ohio operators, while
still existing, have been largely lost
sight of in the attempt to down their
common enemy-the two railroad COM
panies named above. The coal men
have come to the conclusion that
single-handed they cannot fight
the Wheeling and Lake Erie and
the Cleveland, Lorrain and Wheeling
roads, and some time ago they called
upon the railroad officials hauling coal
from Pittsburg to the lakes 10 give them
a lift by reducing freight charges. The
railroad officials accordingly met two
weeks ago, but failed TO come to any
conclusion about rates to the lakes.
The present rate from Pittsburg is 90
cents per ton, and a differential Of 5
cents is allowed the Hooking Valley
people. Pttsburg coal sold for S2.25
per ton last year in the lake markets,
and % cents is given TO the Hooking
operators on account Of the inferior
quality Of their product. The local
coal men are willing to grant the Hook
ing Valley operators these ditferentials
in price and rates. The Hooking coal,
therefore, was sold for 81 per ton.
If the two sections mentioned con-
trolled the coal output everything
would be lovely, but unfortunately for
peace and harmony, the c., L, & w.
and the Wheeling and Lake Erie roads
own and mine their own coal lands.
With them the coal business is side
issue, and they don't care what they get
for the coal as long as they receive the
specified rates on the railroad. The
railroads have agreed among themselves
about rates, and the two lines named
maintain them with the others, but
they undersell their competitors in the
lake markets. Their coal is vastly in
ferior to the Pittsburg article, but that
doesn't make much difference.
These two lines fix the market price
of coal, and the other operators are
placed at a great disadvantage. They
maintain the railroad rates according
to agreement, but they do not hesitate
to knife their competitors when it comes
TO selling. Here is where the shoe
pinches. The Cleveland, Lorain and
Wheeling and the Wheeling and Lake
Erie coal was sold last year for fifteen
cents per ton less than the Hooking
Valley and about forty cents less than
the Pittsburg. Now the other opera
tors have appealed to the railroads to
discipline these two lines by fixing the
rates so that they can't be undersold so
easily. The railroads replied by asking
the operators TO agree on selling price
for coal, and they would make it the
basis for rates 10 the lakes. The opera
tors have tried every year to arrange a
selling price, but so far have failed.
The Hooking Valley operator met in
last week to agree TO some
line of action, but they failed TO come
TO any conclusion. The local operators
say they do not object to the present
rates, if the railroads would keep in
check the Cleveland, Lorain and Wheel
ing aud the Wheeling and Lake Erie
roads. The latter company have ex-
tensive tracts of coal lands in Ohio,
70 1al- ic fG
more than from Pittsburg.
Their coal is also nearer the surface
and has most of the fuel qualities Of the
Pittsburg article. With these advan-
lagos the Wheeling and Lake Erie road
can easily overcome the difference OF 10
cents against them, and undersell the
Valley and local operators.
The latter claim the problem is for the
railroads alone TO settle If they wish TO
retain their coal tonnage from Pitts
burg to the lakes. The Wheeling ard
Lake Erie road last year acquired con-
siderable coal land in Jefferson county,
and they have been using the output, 1t
IS claimed, to make good showing for
the road, content 10 receive low price
for the product.
Another point in favor of these two
Ohio roads is that they do their own
from the cars to the
vessels. Is costs them about ten cents
per ton. The docks at Cleveland and
Fairport are controlled by pri-
7ate capital, and the Pittsburg
operators are charged from fifteen
10 twenty cents for transferring. They
think the railroads should pay the cost
Of transfer, and this would give them
better opportunity to compete with the
Ohio and West Virginia coal men. Har
~ Oliver owns the Fairport docks, and
il is claimed he made S25, 900 last year
IN transferring coal. However, some OF
The operators do not believe that his
profit was that much.
The Pittsburg operators insist that
they have done their best, and it. now
remains for the railroads to protect
hem, or they will be forced to quit.
REAL ESTATE MARKET.