The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-10-06
MINING POLITICS."
Political Lies Turn to Pc
litical Leprocy.
Newspaper Attacks Against the
State Mining System An
sWered.

SWOACNls
The Memphis Commercial-Appeal, in
its fight against the State coal mines,
recently referred to the alleged losses
sustained in the Cincinnati agency,
charging that Morrison, the agent, had
gotten away with several thousand
dollars due the State for coal. The
American, believing the people should
have the facts, few days ago asked the
Board of Prison Commissioners for a
full statement of that transaction.
Here is the answer of Chairman Nixon:
To the Editor Of The American:
"Ofice of the Board of Prison Com
missoners, Nashville, Tenn, Sept. I24,
1898. Referring to your note, with
clipping from the Memphis CONNER
cial-Appeal entitled That Cincinnati
Agency, and asking for statement of
this transaction, I take pleasure in
complying with the request, believing
it to be in good faith and not for the
motive that appears to inspire the Com
mercial-Appeal, for it does not seem to
care for the facts. 1t could have easily
secured them, in the first place, by a
request to the penit@ntiary manage
ment. When Mr.. Hill, the former
manager of the State coal mines re-
sponded to the editorial and gave the
facts, the Commercial-Appeal branch
es out on another line and denounces
the policy of the State mining coal with
convicts as vehemently as does the re-
publican candidate for Governor.
"But for the Cincinnati coal trans
action. In 1896 during the first year
of opening the State coal mines and
getting its product on the market, with
more product than market for an un-
known and untried coal from mines
more or less boycotted by its op-
ponents, and without coke ovens for
utilizing the slack coal, the manage
ment of the mines attempted 20 seek a
market beyond the limit of the State
for some of the surplus coal product,
particularly the nut and slack, that was
without demand and being thrown
away at an expense of 10 to 10 cents per
ton for unloading it from the cars.
This slack coal is thrown away at some
seasons by many mines of the country.
1t is done all the time in the many
mining districts. About this time
Robbert Morrison secured coal rate tC
Cincinnati, arranged for opening a
yard and putting up coal elevator,
tipple, bins, ETC., in connection with
one of the leading railroads at cost OF
several thousand dollars. This is the
only successful method of handling all
grades Of coal or holding trade in Gin
cinnati The railroad agreed for him
to erect the bins, etc, on their proper
ty, and they would refund it's cost al
81 pr car of coal handled by him. The
Commissioners agreed to ship Mr..
Morrison coal, mostly nut and slack,
and extend to him credit for erecting
the bins, upon which the State was to
have first lien, and the property to be
insured for it's benefit, and the 81 car
bonus from the railroad was to go to
the State until the amount was refund
ed. When there was an accumulation
of coal at the mines in excess of or.
ders or demand at any price, it was
shipped to Mr.. Morrison at Cincinnati
mostly nut and slack, until some 1861
tons had been shipped during a year s
time. 1t was sold, delivered by
wagon, to coal houses, engine rooms,
ETC., throughout Cincinnati, after un-
loading by hand from the cars. hand.
ling, sheveling, ETC., much of it being
rescreened by hand. The gross sales
of the coal aggregated some So, 422. 49,
or an overage of about 4S cents per ton
after paying freight to Cincinnati
From this price was deducted drayage,
railroad switching and other charges
and expenses and the agents commits
sion, the whole aggregating some
So, 900, leaving some SO, 900 balance due
the State, which was about II cents pei
ton for the coal. This was, much Of i
the same coal that was being thrown
away at the mines at an expense of ovel
10 cents per ton for simply unloading
it from the cars.
"In the meantime the elevator con
struction fell through from disagree
ment between Mr.. Morrison and the
railroad, and the improvement was
abandoned and the bonus Of 81 pc
car lost. Some differences ON tn,
account arose between Mr.. Morrison
and the manager of the mines. Thr
matter was adjusted by Attorney Gen
eral Pickle and Mr.. Morrison's attor
ney, and the balance found due tn
State-S9, $50 as I now remember-wa
paid in and the transaction closed ant
the business abandoned.
"As before stated, the coal sold wa
mostly slack, and that was unmarked
able and was being thrown away o
given the railroad at mines for ballast
By this arrangement an average of /