The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-10
COAL RATES WILL
NOT BE ADVANCED
So Says Answer of Santa Fe
to Wichita's Complaint
FlLEDINTOPEKAY YESTERDAY
Change in Commodity Rates
Has Been Postponed.
FILEDINT0PEKA YESTERDAY

The expected fifteen cents per ton ad-
vance in the freight rates of coal from
Kansas, Missouri. Arkansas and Indian
territory will not go into effect. Yesterday
the Santa Fe Railroad filed its answer
with the Kansas railroad commissioners
to the complaint filed by the mayor and
City council of Wichita. The Santa Fe
in their answer stated that they had no
intention or raising the coal rates lat
the present time"
1t is expected that each of the four
railroads entering this city will file similar
answers and denails OF the contemplated
advance. The attorneys, Mr. A. L Helm
and S. s Ashbaugh made their complaint
on information received by the coal men
here from the Commercial agent Of the
Frisco The letter was received here and
was read TO several coal dealers of this
city. 1t stated that representatives OF
all the roads touching the Kansas Mis-
souri, Arkansas and Indian territory coat
fields had met in Chicago and decided n
an advance of fifteen cents per ton on
coal from the mines in the states named
to all Kansas points. 1t was generally
understood at that time that he differ
entail Of . cents per ton between slack
and lump coal was to be abolished ana
that both grades would oe handled under
the one rate which with the advsn"e
would be $40 per ton.
Under this informa ton the mayor and
city council net and decided to employ
t1essrs Helm and Ashbaugh TO bring the
suit against The railroads. The COM
plant has been fled and the Santa Fe
has flied their answer.
Mr. Helm stated to he Eagle yesterday
that ii was not likely that the case would
end with the railroads not advancing the /
rates as the complaint filed alleged that
the present rates were exorbitant ana
unjust 20 the business interests of this /
city Mr. Helm believed that there would .
be a hearing in this case hin short f
time when the Wichita Attorneys would +
attempt to prove that even the present I
rates of sl.35 for slack and $50 on lump
coal We're too high according to the dis
tance and the rates in effect in 9th er
sections and the board of railroad com
missioners would be asked TO make an
order instructing the railroads TO make
a lower rate to Wichita than the present
one
= The Santa Fe in its answer to the com
plant filed by the wholesale grocers OF
Wichita. Hutchinson and Salina demand
ing that the roads he entcined from
changing the classification OF sugar, cof-
fee beans and canned goods from commo-
dities to fifth class thereby advancing
the rates from seven to ten cents per
hundred pounds from eastern Kansas
points to Wichita The new classification
would go into effect September 20. Tn
Ger an order issued ten years ago by the
Kansas railroad commissioners the roads
were TO keep the above named artic' es
in the commodity list and give them
commodity rate The roads gave notice
OF the change of classification and the
Erocers dlei a comalaint with The COM
missioners to prevent the change be
coming effective. Last week the Eagle
announced The receipt or t5Ieerans from
1ar RidGle If The Santa Fe ard MI Lin
coin Of the Missouri Pacific announcing
that the rates would not become effective.
In the answer of the santa Fe GIe5 yes
terday 1t IS st ted that the contemplated
change IN com no7itv rates to Wichita.
City. Hutchinson and Saline. =
fective sontouher 80 has been abandoned
end Indefinitely POSTPONED.