The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-11
USE MORE COAL.
Result of the Rate Reductions
in Topeka.
Estimated Saving to Consumers
Is 942, 900.
BOUQUET FOR SANTA FE
Commended for Taking Lead in
Concessions.
Commercial Club to Ask for
Revision of Other Rates.

Eighteen per cent more slack coal
has been used in Topeka in the last 90
days than during the same period of last
year since the Santa Fe railway has re-
dueed the rate on hauling it here
This remarkable statement was made
at the meeting of the Topeka. CONNER
cial club on Friday night by W. L. Tay-
lor, chairman of the transportati ton com
mittee who has been investigating the
situation 1t certainly ought to be an
eye-opener to the railroads
How did you get your informatfon?" ?"
was asked of Mr.. Taylor.
From the roads themselves. They
furnished me the figures was his reply,
but they didn't know what 1 was get
ting them UP for.
Incidentally" said Mr.. TAYLOR ,contfn-
ulng, 'the reduced rate has saved the
consumers Of slack coal in the city of
4opeka about $4,000 I have dug up
the figures on all of these things.
Now have another proposition up
with the railroads, particularly with the
Santa Fe,' said Mr.. Taylor and that
IS the reduction of the freight rate on
lump coal for domestic use And I think
that we Will get some concessions on
that line The matter is now under con
Slderatlon and there may be something
to announce before long. I have asked
the Santa Fe to furnish me some figures
along this line, and I will get them
The foregoing is an echo of the great
effort made BY the Commercial club,
headed by the transportation committee,
to get reduced rates. Formerly Topeka
paid SIPS for slack coal Vice President
Paul Morton, at least he was then in
the employ of the Santa Fe, came here
and listened TO the complaint. A reduc-
tion to $1.12 was made and lust recent
", aided and abetted by the board of
railroad commissioners the rate was re-
duced to 80 cents. L think that Wen
get something more our way. especially
with regard to lump COAL said Secre-
tary Anderson. Here is a little figure
we might turn over a few times and
look at We now pay rate of S1.4O for
lump coal from PittsbUTg. The dis
tanee is $50 miles. We pay a rate of 81
| fiat on brick from Cofayville. The dis
tance here from that paint is 220 miles. -
But the Commercial club and the
Santa Fe are on mighty good terms.
| They passed each other some compli-
ments last night=sly at that-but in
/ dicating a mighty friendly feeling.
"A good deal of the credit for these
reductions has been awarded to the
board of railroad commissioners, said
/ ". L. Taylor, flor the agitation on
this matter The Commercial club
ought to come in for its share. We
/ have worked hard on this matter. ]
/ have gone to Chicago and st. Louis
/ Il number of times. have seen the
railroad people frequently and have
! pointed out to them with my commit
tee how a reduction is of mutual ad-
vantage"
| Then this letter was read from
| General Freight Agent Koontz of the
/ Santa Fe:
y can assure you that apprecia te
the desira bflity of placing credit where
/ credit is due As you are aware, the
question of steam coal rates to To-
peka was brought to the attention of
the various Topeka lines by the trans
/ pOrtatiOn committee of the CONNER
! cial club and the correspondence you
instigated resulted in the readjustment
of the steam coal rates to Topeka"
And the Santa Fe received this
/ nosegay in return, in the shape of a
! resolution:
Whereas, The Atchison, Topeka &
/ Santa F'e railway company was the
first to make reduction in steam coal
rates. at the request of the transpor-
tation committee of this club, there
fore be it
Resolved. by the members of the
| Topeka Commercial club, That they
| extend their thanks and appreciation
for the. concessions already granted by
the traffic department of the Santa Fe
railway, and that the secretary be in
! strueted to furnish d copy of these
resolutions to the general freight
agent and president of the road