The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-11-29
THE COMMISSION.
THE COAL MEN AND THE RAIL
ROAD COMMISSION IN
SESSION
Yesterday Morning at the Commission
Office Discuss Traffic on Coal, But
Nothing Definite Done in
the Matter.

A number of railroad and coal men ap
peared before the comission yesterday
morning to discuss coal rates, and the
meeting was in pursuance OF the follow
ing notice given out by the comission Oh
Nov. 20, 1894:
"The following tariff of joint rates fol
the transportation of soft coal, black
coal and Ignite between points in Texas
to apply by continuous mileage over TWO
or more lines of railroad which are not
under the same management and con.
trolled or submitted for the purpose OF
eliciting the opinions of all parties at In
terest on the rates proposed, and will be
acted on Monday, Nov. 26," correspond
ence was also solicited.
The following gentlemen were present:
II. A. Jones, general freight agent Hous-
ton and Texas Central railroad; ID. b.
Keller, general freight agent Fort Worth
and Denver City railroad; George w:
Turner, general freight agent Texas and
Pacific railroad; j. w. Allen, general
freight agent Missouri, Kansas and
WeatherfOrd and Mineral Wells and
Northwest Texas, also interested in coal
mines; p. II. Coombs, Cotton Belt rail-
road: L. S. Berry of San Antonio, inter
ested in the ROckdale Ignite, and j. D..
Olsen, coal dealer in San Antonio.
ed that the commission was ready Tor
business, whereupon Mr.. Allen of the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas asked a 90
DAYS postponement in order that he and
other freight men could prepare them
selves for an intelligent discus
sion of the questions involy-
ed. He said that he did
not receive notice until the
22nd inst. The request was
refused and the proceedings went on,
Judge Reagan remarking that the COM
mission wanted to make rates on coal,
and that there were enough of the rail-
road and coal men present to give all the
information that was required.
A long and well written letter was read
by Mr.. True, acting secretary of the com
mission, from Mr.. j. G. McCabe, general
freight agent Chicago and Rock Island,
who claimed that the haul on his road in
Texas was very short, being from the
coal mines in Bridgeport, in Wise county;
He claimed that if the rates proposed
were established it would be a great dis
to coal mine development in
the state. He argued against
any difference in rate
in lump and slack coal. He asked that all
the roads be allowed to make their own
rates without reference to mileage, sub
ject to ratification by the commission.
The next letter read was from b. I.
Booze, general freight agent F.. w. ~
Rio G. Ry. He argued that the pro
posed tariff was ruinous to the coal tratfic.
His road handled coal from three points,
Rock creek, Thurber and Bridgeport
He asked that the railroads be allowed to
retain the tariff which obtained before
the proposed changes were made.
Ib;, ,,no1 from
]. B. Bartholomew, assistant general
freight agent of the International and
Great Northern railway, G. S. Reed,
general freight agent, Midland; K. ID.
Hunter president Il. =. Coal Co.; j. X.
Meyers of Galveston, president and gen
eral manager of the Texas City Terminal
company; +. H. HOrtz of Eagle Pass,
in coal mines in West Texas;
John Hart of Lythe interested in Ignite.
A general discussion followed and the
main contention seemed to be for the short
laul of 100 miles or under, the rate is
90 low for a joint tariff, as the proper
ion that each road would receive would
De unremunerative. The commission re-
luested all the freight agents interested
n the coal tariff to submit tariff rate
md argument at the earliest possible
in writing embodying the views
by them today in the meeting.
The freight agents as a rule contend
hat the short haul should be
Iraded up from distances of FIVE
niles, and the sums of the locals
added until maximum rate of 81
Der ton is reached. 1t is also suggested by
hem that for hauls over 300 miles the
ate might be made lower than the pro-
posed tariff
The meeting adjourned at 1923 sine
lie, and the visitors left on their re-
'pective trains for other parts.