Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-05
FIGHTING FOR COAL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ID

The trains last night for Wilmington for
o conference with the general officials OF
the Coast Line 1t was not given OUT
that the trip was made especially IN lills
interest, but it is known that ne ad-
Etsed the Passenger and Power Soiii-
nany's representative that ne "oulo oo
all he could for the release Of the coai,
and he believed that his eaortS Wouio
be successful.
Last night when Mr.. j. D. Patton, pres
sdent of the Richmond Passenger and
Power Company. and the Richmond Irac-
zion Company was seen by reporter OF
The DISPATCH, he spoke in high terms OF
the manner in which Mr. Riddle had
treated him.
At Mercy of Steam Road.
The fifteen cars in the yard here, and
the remaining seventeen en- route, are
consigned to Messrs. c. z. Iathrop d Co,
but was bought at the mines by That illr1
expressly for the Passenger and Power
Company and was to have been delivered
to the company direct from the cars. Inc
coal is mined in the biuefeld district and
there is no other route by which 1t can
be brought save over the one indicated,
and the Passenger and Power Company is
completely at the mercy of the steam
road, if the latter elect to confiscate It's
coal.
1T is believed, however, that II the COM
panv refuses on Monday to deliver the
additional ten cars, as desired, that the
courts of the city Will be resorted to and
IN injunction asked for to enjoin the con-
iscation of the coal. 1t is believed that
The courts would hold that one common
carrier cannot forcily take coal from an
other In event Of any such litigation II
has been pointed out that the coal was
tin % C-ny0.S
Power Company, and for that reason the
Coast-Line did not know the Passenger
and Power Company IN the transaction.
This. 1t is believed, would not hold. be-
cause the company here could show that
Lathrop & Co., were acting as agents for
s. and were buying the fuel for its use.
The question would be fine one, and il
the coal is not delivered promptly here
after. one OF the city tribunals may be
called upon TO decide the issue.
Denial from officials.
The officials of the Coast-Lne called up
the Dispatch last evening and denied that
any coal had been confiscated by that
company, but that the coal for the Pas
senger and Power Company had simply
been held up" Major Patton told the
cporter that he I'D not know which II
gas. whether the cars had been held
hscated.' He added that he thought such
contention was splitting hairs.
After It became known in the city that
The situation was grave unless the Coast
Line delivered the coal consigned to the
Passenger and Power Company. mes
senger from the Chesapeake ana Ohio
railway company called upon the officials
Of the trolley company and told them that
if the situation became strained that they
would lend them all assistance possible.
Superintendent Il. w. Tranord. when
questioned said that hitherto the chesa-
peake and Ohio had not been able to
supply coal and would not undertake It.;
hut the offer OF assistance was appre-
siated.
It was Understood last night that the
officials OF TIE Passenger and Power Com
pany would not do anything more until
Monday. when the result Of Superintend-
Hsnt Riddles trip to Wilmington would
/ he known. Mr.. Trafford was OF the opin-
Il fop fbst the supply OF coal on hand wosld