The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-01
Wear SELLS OUT.
George Gould Buys the Coal
Properties.
Topeka Firm to Retire From
Business.
BIG MERGER is MADE.
Missouri Pacific Railroad Takes
Prominent Part.
Topeka Office Win Probably Be
Discontinued.

The Wear Coal company, a Topeka
institution, with part of it's offices now
at Kansas City, has been sold to
George Gould. or the Missouri Pacific
railway, through B. F. Bush, his agent.
The sale was made technically to the
Western Coal & Mining company,
which concern is buying up and merg-
fng the six big mining companies in
the Weir coal district of Kansas.
The Wear company owns about
1.450 acres of coal land in Crawford
county, and a small amount in eastern
Missouri. The property is worth be-
tween 800 and $3.50 per acre. The
consideration is over a half million
dollars.
Norman Wear, the manager of the
local branch of the concern, was seen
This morning and said: 81 am not at
liberty to say anything about the sale,
further than it was accomplished at
Kansas City yesterday. was asked
by Mr.. Bush to say nothing at all
about it until he announced it through
the newspapers. Mr. Bush is the rep
resentative of George Gould of the
Missouri Pacific. The firm name is
the Western Coal & Mining company.
will not name the consideration. He
will make all the details public in a
few days.
at can say nothing about my con-
tinuance in this Office" said Mr.. Wear.
Il am simply taking care of the office
today for the buyers do not know
what the plans are"
The following information relative
to the immense merger comes from
Kansas City:
Kansas City, July ii. R. Grove,
president of the 7. r. Grove Coal and
Mining company, with general Offices
in the Dwight building, is promoting
a deal for the purchase and CONSOLE
dalton of six mining companies in the
Weir City district in Kansas. The deal
contemplates the consolidation of
mines with an annual tonnage of l.
060,000 and an estimated valuation of
$S15,000. The deal has not yet been
contaminated but is now under way
and Mr.. Grove is negotiating with the
different coal companies named in the
foregoing list. Mr.. Grove was not in
president of the Cherokee Crescent
Coal company, with general offices in
the Dwight building, was also out of
the city, but the fact that the merger
day afternoon by H. c. Fellows, gen
eral manager of the j. r. Grove Coal
and Mining company Said he:
Il am not in position to say that
the coal companies have been pur-
- chased, but I can say that negotia-
lions are under way. Mr.. Grove has
asked my advice on the proposition Of
absorbing the companies and the diff
by our agents to determine their val
uation."
1t is known that the large coal opera
tors are dissatisfied with the present
conditions for producing and marketing
coal in the Weir City district as well
as the Pittsburg district. The six coal
companies which are to be included in
the consolidation are all in the Weir
City district, which contains about sc
- mines within q radius of Is miles. The
Wear Coal company of this district was
purchased a short time ago by the
Western Coal and Mining company, the
coal department of the Missouri Pacific
This company has an annual output OF
100000 TONS The realization of Mr.
Groves plan for consolidating the six
coal companies would place his COM
pany. in conjunction with the Missouri
Pacific, in a position to control the out
put and prices of coal in the Weir City
district.
This condition is feared by the small
dealers and producers of the district. Al
present there is competition in prices
but the small dealers say that if the big
companies are consolidated the little
companies will be frozen out.
''It win put us small dealers off the
map" said a small independent pro
Queer yesterday. THE big dealers are
dissatisfied because of the present, what
they call 'cut-throat' competition. There
that 1t is inpracticable for them to gel
together and agree on prices. If these
independent companies are consolidated
under two or three heads it is then al
easy matter for the consolidated com
panies to get together on prices and Gu
down the expense of operation and pro
duction."
COMPANIES IN THE MERGER.
Annual Estmtt
Ton Val
Companies. mage. uation
J. r. Grove Coal & Mining
Co, general offices Kansas
City, mines in operation 100, 900 500, 90
Southern Coal & Mercantile
Co, Scammon, Kan,
mines ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10000 10000
Cherokee Crescent Coal Co.
Mineral Kan, general Of
fees Kansas City, l mine 175,0o0 5000
Fleming Coal Co., Mineral.
Kan, mines. 100000 100, 90
J. H. Bennett Coal Co.,
Weir City, Kan............. $1,000 1000
B. s. Abbott Coal Co.,
Weir City, Kan, Jack
Rabbit mine ............... 5000 800
Totals ... ..........1o 5O00o ss15 ON