The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-24
WICHITA WINS OUT
Coal Rate Fight Begun By
Wichita.
Is THE STATES SUCCESS
Get a Reduction of Sixteen
Cents Per Ton.
is THE STATES SUCCESS

Wichita through the agency Of rs
mayor, city attorney and city council, has
won out in the fight for rates on coal.
From Plttsburg the charge has been cut
16 cents per ton. This means saving
TO the citizens Of Wichita Of many thou
sands OF dollars every year. heretofore
paid to railroads for the hauling OF coal
TO this city. Formerly II cost the coal
dealer $3.50 per ton shipped from Pitts
burg, but with this reduction the rate :
only sl.44 AS it is estimated that Sc, 600
tons of coal are shipped to Wichita every
year by Pittsburg operators. the saving
from this point alone will amount to the
yearly sum OF sl2 500. AS there is about
an equal tonnage from other points. this
saving will be doubled. For which the
public and private enterprises of Wicht a
are grateful. It is the beginning of
great and final triumph. While the re-
duction was offered by the railroads, Il
was not a voluntary one, 1t was COM
promise growing out of litigation over
the matter.
Last January the mayor and city coun-
Gil instructed City Attorney Adams to
bring suit on behalf of the city of Wich-
tia against all the railroads entering here,
charging them with maintaining an ex-
cessive rate for coal shipped into this
city. They also alleged that the rate was
neither equitable nor just. In February
the board of railroad commissioners and
representatives of the roads met here and
obtained testimony. Attorney General
Boyle assisted City Attorney Adams "a
anime witnesses. The board then ad-
journed and the case was set for hearing
June II at Topeka, at which time the
railroads asked continuance on several
grounds. and the case was reset for July
21st
Before this time Emporia, Salina, Ere
donia and Usage City had taken the cue
from Wichita and commenced similar pro-
ceedngs. The board combined all these
cases and was TO give them all hearing
at the same time. When :he day of the
trial came the railroads, instead of in
PRODUCING defenses, made proposition in
the way-of compromise TO reducing the
charges Is cents per ton. City Attorney
Adams was Of the opinion that a greater
cut might have been made by the board If
the cities had refused The compromise
and renewed the fight with more vIgor.
But If this had been done the case would
have been put off by the railroads from
time to time and in the end there was
possibility of no greater reduction, and in
any case there would have been a long
legal fight Taking all these facts into
consideration, Mr.. Adams and the other
officials decided that 1t was better to &C
cept this concession and have it go into
effect almost Immediately than to prolong
litigation. Under this compromise the
rate will go into effect August TO- The
cities who joined with Wichita were also
successful in getting reductions. with the
exception OF Usage City, which has a diff
ferent case it being a shipping point.
Wichita has had other freight-rate
fights. They have not all ended as speed
lily nor as satisfactorily as has This one,
but they have been just. and finally sue
cessful in their outcome. There are 9TH
er inequitable rates on many commodities
shipped in here, but with time they Will
all be adjusted and merchants will have
a chance to compete with those OF other
cities without being Handicapped by rates.
The coal-rate victory is a lead for Wich-
ita's great development.
IL Is anOlneF step tOWarl the comm eIIlr-
cial supremacy Of Wichita. The city IS
gradually but surely overcoming all COM
bines against her growth. a second growth
backed by capital an4 reason. which rea-
lie that the logical enGowments neces-
sary to become the great city Of the
southwest are to be found here.
During the past year a number Of new
joobing houses have opened their doors
here and are prospecting. Almost every
line is represented. New ones are seeking
locations and are coming quietly with
plenty Of capital. Cheaper coal will help.
The day OF gigantc bonuses IS past. and
il is only financially sound concerns that
are now taking advantage OF Wichita's
ma tural location to obtain their tvs &c
The dawn of a new era is at hand. and
the fame of Wichita Will again go out
through the land, not as city OF Wild
speculation and inflated values. but as a
city OF firm and solid commercial impor-
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