The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-11-05


all the companies received over that "
profit Mr Resing believes that such Is
the case. -
Railroad Man Testified.
NJ H Rudolph. local agent for the
Frisco, was the next witness. He was
asked to answer questions concerning
the hauling of coal by that company
from Pittsburg 10 Wichita for s. cents
and turn the coal over to the Rock Is
land for shipment TO Harrington when
the rate from Pittsburg to firm here IS
s1.sO He testified that such is done.
Goa! ceaIer as Witness.
George Walker, a coal dealer. testified
that he has been In the coal business in
Wichita for twenty years. He buys coal
from mines all over the country, He. like
Resing. testified that cars are hard 70
get for shipments and that the railroad
companies have all the business each can
handle. He also testified that the high
prices of coal are due 10 high railroad
rates. He was then asked by Mr. Helm
if he doesn't think the rate of sl-5o be
tween Wichita and Pittsburg unreason-
able. Mr.. Hurd objected. Nh Helm
argued that the witness in his long busl.
ness experience has had the opportunity
TO study the matter sufficiently TO MAKE
testimony from him on the subject that
OF an expert The objection was sus-
tanned He also testified that the cost
of operating trains is more in other
states than it is in Kansas due 10 the
p 90 he
mony was stricken out due TO objection
on the part of the railroad attorneys that
Mr.. Walker isn't capable of judging the
operating expenses OF a railroad He
testified that il is harder than ever be
fore TO make any profit off the sale Of
coal. and that the Missouri Pacific rate
is now 10 cents higher than it was one
year ago. He said that the rate was
once down TO 81 n about zen years ago,
between Wichita and Pittsburg, but that
it was raised shortly afterward
Another Dealer Testified.
Ed Kinnaird. another coal dealer, was
next on the stand and he testified prac-
ticalIy TO the same things as did Mr.
Walker He stated that the volume OF
business now being done by the railroads
is so great that at times it is almost
impossible to get cars.
Bonds Were Voted.
c. l. Davidson was next called and
testified that the city of Wichita at diff
ferent times voted bonds for the building
Of branches which are now composed
in the Missouri Pacific system. He said
$40 eco worth of sonds were voted to the
wichita and Colorado railroad and 4
similar amount for the building OF the
ST Louis Fort Scott and Wichita rail-
road. Each is now part of the Mis-
souri, Pacific. He further testified that
10000 worth of bonds were voted for
the building Of the Santa Fe from New
ton to Wichita and that the county
voted bonds TO the amount of $4,000 n
the townships through which the rail-
roads, now a part OF the Missouri Pa
cifc passed. He stated that the present
rates are a drawback to the city and
that if they were reduced he is salts
fed that the railroads will have much
more business in coal
Kinnaird was recalled and stated that
there was an advance in the rate for
handling slack of from sl.25 to s1-S5 since
one year ago. He. with Mr. Walker and
Mr.. Reynolds. another coal dealer who
was sworn in. testified that each VIII
sell coal just as much cheaper as it viii
be possible to secure freight rates for
hauling the fuel
Asked for .Postponement.u oa
A. A. Hurd. for the. Santa Fe. then
spoke at length of the many questions
which arose at the hearing and OF the
many things which he thinks it will be
necessary for the railroads u investigate
before continuing the trial He asked that
the commissioners set the time for fla
ishing the trial either one or two weeks
later. Mr. Richards made a talk on the
same lines. as did also Mr.. Gleed.
Helm Talked.
Mr.. Helm then read the law regarding
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