The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-20
LOW COAL RATES
James ]. Hill Intends to
Bring Illinois Coal Here
Cheaply.

Through the Burlington road and the
coal properties adjacent, j. j. Hill intends
to make southern Illinois soft coal much
more important factor in the northwes-
tern market The coal rate from that
territory is to be lowered and other means
employed to increase It's consumption in,
twin city territory.
BY this action Mr. Hill and the Bur
lington road come to the front as ac-
tive and important factors in the coal
trade OF the west. The Great Northern
president has explained that one OF his
purposes in acquiring control of the Bur
lington was to become independent OF the
east and other sources for his coal supply.
He is understood to have positive opinions
on the general policy now followed in the
coal trade, whereby the operators pool
names it's terms and the consumer has no
choice.
Mr.. Hills roads are the biggest con-
sumers Of coal in the northwest. The
Great Northern is taking the lead in par
TALLY to Illinois coal. For the use of
the properties in which he is interested,
Mr. Hill will bring 250,0oo tons of soft
coal from Illinois this year. This Is q
large percentage of the twin city con-
sumption. He also intends to encourage
the use OF Illinois coal by all other con-
sumers in order that the Burlington may
increase it's importance as coal carrying
road.
The Great Northern president has been
carefully Investigating the situation for
several weeks He has arrived at the
conclusion that If the coal in southern
Illinois is mined according to the best
methods, it Is as good as most OF the
steam coal from Pennsylvania and Ohio
mines. Illinois coal men have been here
to confer with him and the result will be
a change of methods for the better in
southern Illinois mines. By improving
the quality and lowering the rate it is
expected that they will bring the Illinois
product rapidly to the front Illinois coal
can be mined much more cheaply than the
veins In Pennsylvania and Ohio. The coal
found north of Springfield, but Mr.. Hill
regards the methods Of mining it as prim-
tive. -t.&
The Grain Rate situation.
Whether there is to be a reduction in
grain rates this year from points in Min
nesota and the Dakotas to Duluth and
Minneapolis is still problematical. It is
understood that the traffic men have
reached no decision. When the reduction
in merchandise rates was made several
months ago it was intimated that before
the next crop was ready for shipment
grain rates would be lowered. Since that
time there has been an advance in wages
to some classes Of employees on the Great
Northern and other advances are to come
within short time. In discussing the
possibility Of reduction of grain rates
man high in authority said to-day:
We have been seriously considering re.
duction in grain rates to Duluth and Mime
apolis, but as the matter stands now we DE-
not know whether we will make 1t or not
The wages of large number Of our men have
been materially advanced in the past few
months. More advances are coming. This
increase in expense may deter us from max
ing the reductions IN grain rates this year.
It is we'll understood that when grain
rates were reduced few years ago from
points in Minnesota and North Dakota
Mr.. Hill gave his officials a surprise
party. This reduction on the grain ton
mage of the Great Mort hern from that
district amounted to about 81 zoe, 900 8
year. Mr.. Hill may give another such
surprise party this year, but at this time
there appears to be no foundation for the
report discussed by insiders" in traffic
that a reduction in grain rates effective
July 1 is already planned.