The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-08-26
Firhunp the Cnal CUNNING.

The Kansas City Times OF Thursday
gives the following account Of Mr. J. G.
McGrew 5 efforts 20 build a switch:
Back Of the midnight attempt at side
track laying at First and Grand avenue
last Saturday, which was stopped by the
police under the mistaken idea that II
was part Of a new land grab scheme Of
the Missouri Pacific railway, there was.
it seems. a deal more than appeared on
the surface. The track laying episode
was part OF a ten-yeaT fight that J.. c.
McGrew, a wealthy coal miner and flour
miller of Lexington, Missouri, has been
waging with the Missouri Pacific and
the coal combine. The combine has
decided that McGTew must either JOIN
It's ring or quit business. McGeW
sturdily refuses TO do either. And
there's the rub. There's a line lot Of
litigation on and plenty more in pros
pect.
j. G. MctiTew owns the largest mines
in the great Lexington coal district e1-
cepting those Of the Missouri Pacific.
He employs 30 hands and the railway
400. Years ago McGrew objected to
unfair rates demanded by the railroad.
And since then he has had fights on his
hands all the while. Several suits he
has brought for discrimination are now
! in course of trial. McGrew submits
that under the laws of Missouri the
Missouri Pacific has no right TO make a
rate OF 10 cents a ton from Lexington to
BOonville, seyenty-twO miles, and then
charge 81 cents ton from Lexington to
Kansas City, only forty miles. lie
wants the difference between the Boon
vile rate and the Kansas City rate
refunded to him and has sued for II.
Wherefore the railway company is very
wrathy.
McGrew brings all sorts OF charges
against the railway. lie asks II il is
right for the Missouri Pacific 10 he
allowed TO capture the contract for sup
plying coal TO the %penitentiary at JeifeI-
son City at Sl.s9 a ton, when the roads
own rate for transportation alone is
Sl.lO a ton and il has to pay 81 a ton
for mining, making no reckoning Of Il Q
Office force, interest on the money in
vested and all that.
There is, according TO Mr.. McGrew-
and common knowledge coal combIi G
in Kansas City, and the Missouri
Pacific is in on it. Since McGrew
has refused to join this trust, its mem.
Ders, including the Missouri Pacific.
have undertaken 10 drive him out Of
business. They organized q regular
t system OF boycott, and a year ago Mir
? McGrew felt that il he was to sci
coal In Kansas City he must do il him
self. lie came here and bought Tn,
corner OF First and Grand avenue ant
prepared to erect a brick warehouse. al
> a headquarters Tor both his coal and hi
j flour business. j. &. Bauerle was pu
in charge as manager and the bushes
was launched,
b, But this was but the beginning. Nc
Grew found himself subjected 10 al
u sorts Of delays BY the Missouri Pacific
. The railway never seemed to have side
track room when he had coal TO unload
!. lie had to submit 10 trying and e1
le penslve delays on every shipment. An
Of all the satisfaction protests brought wa
IL the statement that the company had nc
track Don enough. Upon this Nj
Grew went to the council and got peI
mission from the council to build
I. switch Of his own. This was La
spring. Since then Mr.. McGrew IA
been waiting with what patience he ca
" for the track to be put in. But all Il
v Missouri Pacific did was 10 send a su
yeyor over and make a map. SIM
then II has been waiting. One OF a
re railways employees told a city ofiici
Us frankly that II McGfew wanted a sid
f., track he'd have to grade aud build
himself.
This McGrew undertook TO do Satu
day night, when the police interfere
he When Manager Bauerle had satisfied d
he police, the Chicago q Alton folk we
, ready with a temporary ]lniunctio
Whether this writ shall be made perm
H. nent or not IL vet for argument Il
ne morning in Judge lIeny's court, b
y the defense will ask an extension un
~ Monday morning.
Of The United States railroad comm
.es siones are 10 be- here next Wednesda
and there is every prospect Of a btu
, fight over the coal combines extortiC
ate rates and supeflatiye ~centralizatio