The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-14
Santa Fe Slashes Southern Coal
Rates.
Railroad Board Officially NOti-
fed of Fact.
SAVES OSAGE FIELDS.
Have Been Nearly Ruined by
Discrimination.
Frisco Started the Movement
for Lower Rates.

state board of railroad commissioners
by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
railroad, through its general freight
agent, James R. Koontz, of a general
reduction of coal rates from Pittsburs
Leavenworth, and Usage county mines
that will affect almost every coal using
town in Kansas. Hereafter the coal
rates will be fixed according to a mile
age basis, which will mean reduction
of from Is to 40 cents a ton on all coal
whether it be nut or steam. The new
rate will be effective Immediately and
will be in force from Strong City to
Newton, on the main line west of New
ton. on the Englewood barnch west of
Mulvane and on the Pratt and Strong
City branches.
Frisco Started 1t.
Though not generally known, it was
really the Frisco that ppecipitated the
collapse of the railroads in their fight
against reduced coal rates.
Wednesday morning a representative
of the Frisco freight department came
before the state board of railroad COM
missioners, and stated that his road de-
sired permission to put in rate of 81
on steam coal from the southern Kan
SaS field to Wichita. This incident was
carefully suppressed by the railroad
commissioners, for fear that a prema-
ture announcement might block furth-
er developments, which they felt were
sure to come.
AS soon as the Santa Fe officials got
wind of what the Frisco had done, they
at once opened up negotiations with
the board, and notified some of the
members to stay in town until this
morning so that the Santa. Fe might
submit a revised schedule OF freight
rates, and get it approved.
This morning, Freight Agent Koontz
called at the office of the board, and
secured the following order:
Lump Rates.-Upon application of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway Company il is hereby granted
permission to apply from the Fronte-
nae mines, in connection with the pres
ent commodity rates, a distance tariff,
which will operate as a substantial re-
duction in many instances and in none
advance the present acommo odity rates.
?. Permission is granted said COM
pany to re-establish and observe the
differential in coal rates which exist
ed in 1889, Usage under Frontenac and
apply the same to the lump rates as
established in paragraph 1 of this
order.
g. Permission is further granted to
said company to apply in connection
with the rates from the Leavenworth
mines a mileage schedule of rates.
which will have the effect in no in
stance of. advancing the present rates
from Leavenworth.
is granted said company to apply as a
maximum a rate of $50 per ton on
steam coal from Frontenac mines to
all stations on and east of a line COM
mencing at and including Atchison,
and running thence through Topeka,
Emporia, Madison, Toronto and back
to the mines through Chanute.
2 Permission is also granted to eS-
tablish a rate on steam coalfrom From
tenac mines to Wichita of S1.00 per
ton and apply such rate as maximum
at intermediate points on the line
through Newton and Strong City and
on the line through Winfield. Such
$1.00 rate shall operate as maximum
at intermediate points on branch lines
between the line passing through New
ton and the line passing through Win
field.
3. To points on the north of Strong
City, west of Florence, west of Newton,
west of Wichita. west of Mulvane, west
of and south of Winfield and including
the branch lines in such territories, the
steam coal rate from Frontenac mines
shall be 70 per cent of the lump rates
as established under paragraph 1 of
this order.
viii Commodity Rate Case Follow?
There is some reason to believe that
the reduction in the rates on coal is
only a preliminary of the capitulation
of the railroads on the commodity rate
cases which are pending before the
board of railroad commissioners which
involve the rates on salt, paper hard
ware, groceries, and practically a COM
plete revision of Kansas freight rates.
1t is stated on good authority that
the reduction in the coal rates is the
result of a split in the Western Freight
Traffic association, which is the body
which practically controls the freight
rates of the state Some of the roads
wanted to make the reduction rather
than submit to an investigation of
their rates before the state board 9th
ers insisted upon a fight. The result
was a disagreement which has result
ed in the announcement of separate
tariffs. All the roads will have to fol-
low the lead of the Others
It is said that in regard TO the COM
modify rate cases, the railroads do not
intend to take sides in the fight be-
tween the interior and Missouri river
Jobbers. They will fight against a
general reduction in rates, but will let
the board settle the question of dis
elimination to suit themselves The
result of the suits is likely to be a
compromise on new schedule OF
freight rates for Kansas.
Clyde Miller, of Usage City, well
known IN Kansas politics, was in To-
peka today, and was rejoicing in the
announcement of the new coal rates
1T saves the Usage field from destruc-
tion, he said "Our mines are run
ming only one or two days a week; ou1
output is only a third of what it was
few years ago; coal from Missouri
and other points is being shipped al
most to the gates of Usage City and
sold in competition with home coal. In
fact the Usage county operators were
practically out of business. This re-
duction in rates has come in time to
save u.s.
Carr Taylor, attorney for the board
of railroad commissioners, was delight
ed with the action of the Santa Fe. He
said: "It means a saving of a million
dollars a year in freight rates to the
80 af hi