The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-02
County Attorney Hungate In
Vestigates Coal Combine.
May Proceed Against Barons
Under Kansas Law.
THE FACTS ARE CLEAR.
Only Trouble Now Is to Prove
Them.
Mr.. Coleman and Mr.. Hungate
in Conference.

The coal trust may find itself in the
clutches of the law in Shawnee county.
County Attorney Hungate is looking into
the fuel condition in Topeka with a view
of bringing legal proceedings against the
trust.
This morning County Attorney Hun
gate and Attorney General Coleman held
conference at the state house to dis
cuSs the conditions and the feasibility
OF bringing proceedings in court against
the trust which has forced the price of
coal in Topeka to the highest figure ever
known What the result of the confer
ence was has not been stated, for neither
men will talk, but Mr. Hungate is re-
solved to take some action if he finds
1t possible to accomplish anything.
County attorneys, as well as the attor-
ney general. have the power to proceed
legally against trusts or combines of
any sort. The question with Mr. Hun
gate at present is whether the county
will bear the expense and whether he
will have any backing in the fight, if
he starts it.
That the mine operators of Usage
county have formed a trust is beyond
doubt. The first effect of the combine
was felt last winter but the grip of the
trust is now tighter even than then.
Last winter the mine operators got
taste of high prices and larger profits
and now the trust has decided to gOuge
the public even more than during the
fuel famine last winter.
The price of coal at the Usage county
mines and the retail price in Topeka
are now higher than they have ever
been before, and if the usual custom is
to be followed the prices viii be still
higher when the colder weather comes
That the mine operators of Usage
City meet in Topeka the last Saturday
in every month and decide on the
prices for the coming month is beyond
doubt. The meeting for August was
held on the last Saturday in August
at the office of the Mt. Carmel Coal
company and on September l tI1e price
of all coal at the mines was advanced.
The trust was perfected in the fall of
1902 when notification was sent to all
dealers to the effect that Gus Johnson
would in the future control the entire
output of all the mines in Usage
county.
County Attorney Hungate said today:
Il can not say what / shall do. l do
not know as yet. The county attorney
Is given the power by law to summons
persons from any part of the state and
to examine them for the purpose of de-
termining whether a trust in any line
of trade exists, but the county attor-
ney is apt to be hampered by a want of
funds and assistance and means. L
know that proceeding against trust
means long drawn out legal contest.
1t seems to me that a move should be
made against the coal trust. but can
not say at present what ! shall do.
The price for Usage county coal in To-
peka is now higher than it has ever
been. The retail price for Usage City
shaft is s4.75 ton and the price for
Burlingame coal is $3.50 a ton. The price
for these Goals at the mines is also high
er than ever before. The price for Usage
City shaft at the mines is now $3.10
ton and for Burlingame $2-95- The
freight per ton to Topeka is go cents,
the same as it has been for years. The
price for hauling and delivering coal is
from % cents to 40 cents a ton If the
price for hauling is 25 cents the profit
to the dealer is 20 cents. If the price
for hauling is 40 cents his profits are 81
cents a ton.
The highest prices for coal at the
mines last winter, even during the fuei
famine. were as follows: Usage City
shaft $2.S5; Burlingame $3.50. The price
now is 35 cents a ton higher for Bur-
lingame and 25 cents ton higher for
Usage City shaft.