The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-09

The articles in The Herald in
reference to the need of cheaper
coal, and the ability of the
railroad companies to furnish it
through the dealers delivered to con-
sumers at 81 a ton, with fair profits
to all who handle it, have attracted a
good deal of attention. The accom-
panying letter, from one who is farnil-
lar with the facts on which he touches,
corroborates the views of The Herald
on this matter:
Salt Lake City, Feb. S, 1895.
Editor Herald:
Dear Sir-In reference to your edi-
torial of Feb. 1st, Cheaper Coal" what
is needed?
Compel the railroads to be common
carriers" and to haul for all parties
at the same rates and not to have the
monopoly Of selling all the coal in
Utah.
The R. G. w. Railway is hauling coal
| under contracts from the mines to Og-
den and to Provo for one dollar per ton
and is making a profit on the haul.
The operating expenses of mining
coal Qncluding everything except in
terest on investment-and government
coal land can yet be had for $50 an
| acre. is close to rs cents per ton, exact
figures and distribution of same given
if required.
The cost Of coal f. o. b. Ogden Ghe
only item not taken into consideration
being interest on investment on coal
land), S1.T5 per ton, and Salt Lake and
Provo less proportionately.
Out of said SIZE the railroad and
| coal companies also make profits on
| the railroad haul on the nut coal which
is put on cars without cost, and on the
sales of supplies to employees of coal
companies.
If the railroad or coal companies
should deny the above statements, it
is asked that they give a public sworn
statement to hold harmless any of
their employees who shall publish cop
les of documents to prove the asser-
| tons herein contained.
Railroads are required under the
common law to act as common car
riers.
Coal would be brought to the price
of legitimate industry if coal rates
were given, but no small coal owner
can ship at present, except at not only
protective but a prohibitory railroad
tariff, and to take the case to the
courts against the dilatory tactics of
the railroad companies would take
more means than most small coal mine
owners can raise. Yours truly,
K. o. KNEE.
The Herald is satisfied that if a con-
certed and determined effort was made,
coal could be obtained in this city at
reduction at least of one dollar per
ton delivered. We do not attach any
blame as to present prices to the deal
ers. The fault and the remedy lie
with the railroads. They are reaping
the big profits. They are getting too
much for the haul. The miners and
the dealers are at the extreme ends of
the business. 1t is the mfddlemen-
the railroads--in this case that are
grabbing the great bulk of the money
in the business.
find in this coal question a
legitimate field for inquiry and prof
table action. If better rates could be
secured for all freights to and from
Utah points, the benefits would be i'm
mense to the people and would even
tually prove to the interest of the rail-
road companies.
The policy pursued towards Utah by
those companies has been mistaken, in
our opinion. from the beginning. 1t
has been to obtain from the people of
Utah all that could possibly be ex-
tracted by high rates and unfair dis
elimination. When rates to Utah