Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-17
A COAL TARIFF PICTURE.

a GOAL TARIFF PICTURE.
In dealing with the subject of free
coal in the speech on his tariff measure
Mr.. WILSON stated that the "protec-
tion" did not go to the coal miner-as
every coal miner knows-nor to tho coal
operator-as every coal operator knows.
Mr.. WILSON stated that it was simply q
bounty To railroad corporations.
1t has been stated that coal is carried
by the railroads cheaper than anything
else. This may be, but railroad men
and coal operators know that MIR.
WILSON is right, nevertheless.
Coal is carried cheaply, but il can be.
and is, carried much cheaper, and at n
profit when occasion demands. For in
stance, West Virginia coal is sold in Chi
cago for less than the road and COM
pany-which, by the way, are Mr.. VI.
L. INGALLS, road, the c. e O. and
the c. 81 o. Coal Agency-asks for
carrying IL to Richmond, Va, about
one-half the distance. INGALLS, would
not carry this coal to Chicago II he lost
money by it. He is not in the railroad
and coal mining business for sweet char
ity'S sake and doesn't haul coal to Chi
cago for about one-half the price he
charges for taking il to Richmond for
the benefit OF the Chicago poor.
1t is, also, noticeable fact that
whenever the price Of coal goes up the
railroad freight rates go up in proper
tion.
This scheme is worked on the coal
operators in the Kanawha and New
River Districts In this way: The Ches-
Dlpeake and Ohio Railroad and the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Coal Agency are run
by the same men and are practically
one concern. The coal operators can
not sell 10 any one but the Chesapeake
and Ohio Agency, because that com
pany controls the only road over which
they can ship, and it refuses to furnish
caars in which to ship coal that
does not pass through its hands. The
company sets the price at the mines.
Its terms must be complied with or the
coal cannot be shipped. II buys the
coal, ships it and sells it. This is Mr..
NJ. +. INGALLS, road and Mr.. NJ. T.. IN
CALLS Company. Whatever Of tariff
bounty there is goes not TO the coal
miner, nor to the coal operator, but to
the c. & O. railroad and the @. * O. Coal
Agency. The head Of these concerns
howls for protection, claiming
that the coal Industry will be ruined
~ the tariff is removed, because his
road will not be able 70 haul it East in
competition with Nova Scotia coal.
And yet Mr. INGALLS, company takes
this same coal twice the distance West
and sells it for less than in the East.
Why? Simply because the C. IS o. has
20 compete with other roads in haul
ing to the West, while It has a mouopo-
~ OF the traffic eastward and can
charge what - pleases No matter
which way the coal goes the miner and
the operator get no more and no less at
the mines for their coal
In other words the big railroad
have the coal operators and miners ~
their mercy. or whatever profit there is
80 the business they take the lions
share, and the operators, who are
not also railroad owners, ike Mr. Iy-
CALLS. cannot help themselves.
Free trade in coal, as every coal oper
ator in West Virginia knows. will not
injure any mine in the state. They may
not make more profit with free coal,
for the railroads already take every
cent OF itthey can, but the7 will do NOR,
business, employ more men, develop
more mines aud make more money
a tariff does not benefit the miner Of
the operator one whit nor will ice re
moval inJure them. Coal will con.
time TO be mined, and railroads will
continue TO carry 30 Tor as much Of.
they can get.