The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13
Commercial Club Committee
Starts q New Movement.
Will Ask for Reduction from
Usage Fields.
WITH THE SANTA FE.
Question to First Be Considered
With Local Officers.
Kansas City Gets the Same
Rate as Topeka.

| The Commercial club transportation
committee will start a movement short
ly to get a reduction on the rate for
hauling lump coal from the Usage City
Scranton, Burlingame and Carbonate
mines. In the recent successful effort
of reducing jobbing and slack coal rates
it was asked that lump coal be favored
from Pittsburg and the southwestern
Kansas mines from $1.40 per ton to 81.
The railroads refused the concessions.
In considering the situation and con-
ditions further, the transportation COM
mittee of the Commercial club came to
the conclusion that a reduction on lump
coal rates would be more desirable from
the Usage City districts than from Pitts
burg, because Usage coal is the most
common commodity for general use in
homes. The railroads now charge a
general rate of 60 cents per ton for
hauling Usage coal. 1t will be asked of
them to haul it for one and one-half
cents per mile. That would make the
rate for the towns in the Usage dis
trict as follows:
Distance
Town from Topeka. Rate.
SarDondale ....--11 miles 251z cents
scranton p miles BIZ cents
Burlingame .......26 miles 80 cents
Usage City .....-.......A miles 81 cents
The rate from Usage City, proper,
would naturally be the one most af-
fecting the general consumption in
this city. A knocking down of 8 cents
per ton would help out the price in
Topeka during the winter and while
not much in small amounts. it still
would have its effect, taking the city
as whole.
The movement will be initiated
shortly so as to make any possible
reductions, if secured, effective for the
Coming winter. 1t will only be a mat
ter of a few months until the coal
~ -, !. ,sk
again have to be filled. and it is de-
sired that the advantage be enjoyed
at that time.
1t is vet undecided as to the direc-
ton in which the plea will be made.
Naturally the matter will first be con-
sidered with the general freight de-
partment here. which J. r. Koontz
represents, but unless success is found
there at once. higher officials of the
Santa Fe will be approached, as was
done when the last freight reductions
of a few weeks ago were secured.
Secretary Anderson will inform the
railways through letter as to what the
city wants and what will probably be
asked for. He will acQuaint the Off
Gals having the matter in charge all
the way uD the line. to the top, and
then an arrangement will be made for
representatives of the road to meet in
conference with a committee from the
Commercial club. The matter will be
taken up shortly.
II think" said Major Anderson. that
the wise thing to do is to get a reduc-
ton from Usage City because that sets
the price of lump coal in the city of
Topeka We are now paying so cents TO
get it here. Kansas City is enjoying
exactly the same rate. That will be one
of the arguments which we shall pre-
sent to the railway people and it will
be hard for them to get away from IT.
On the latter point, however it will
be remembered that Vice President
Paul Morton made the distinct argu-
ment in regard to the lower rate OF
lump coal from Pittsburg to Kansas
City than from Pittsburg to Topeka,
that the competition in Kansas City
from the Missouri mines, made the low
rates to That point necessary.