The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-09
RAP AT TOPEKA.
Railroads Now Want the Coal
Rate Adjusted.
Object to the System of Grading
in Use.
MEANS BIG INCREASE.
Nut Coal Would Come in at 81. 40
Instead of so Cents.
Usage Mine Operators Are to Be
Helped Out.

If all Of the plans of the Missouri Pa
ci1c and Santa Fe railroads reach con-
summation Topeka is due for a hard
shedding indeed on coal rates. Animus
seems to be directed against Topeka
though excuses Of a different nature
are resorted to i'm order to beg the ques-
ton
The general freight agents of the two
roads. j. r. Koontz OF the Santa Fe
and J. C. Lincoln of the Missouri Pa
ciflc have agreed with the Usage coun-
ty operators TO join with them in a pc
tition to the board of railroad commits
sioners asking that all southern Kan
eas coal not grading through ~
mesh shah take the lump coal rate
Prior to this and at this time the ia
mesh is the standard, all coal not grad
ing through this sized mesh comes in
at the lump coal rate.
The difference between the two meshes
is that the nut coal under the new plan
ST adopted would be forced into the
lump coal rate instead of the low rate
which 1t now enjoys on par with
slack The nut coal comes into Topeka
under the present freight charge of 80
cents and should the plan of the two
general freight agents be adopted it
N0AAA NC P4-1p1 al A4ANA case VI ~ ~--t--
q ton.
IF the board of railroad commission
ers adopts that provision il is certainly
going to work great hardship ON To-
peIIa' said one of the prominent coal
dealers. Topeka uses about 200 tons
monthly of this nut coal; we have been
educating these manufacturers and
other large consumers into the use of
the nut. i is cheaper in the long run
though you have to ge1 accustomed to
the manner in which it has to be han
died
The whole object back of the thing is
an effort on the part of the Missouri
Pacific and the Santa Fe TO favor the
Usage county coal fields over the south
ern Kansas. I don't know whether the
Rock Island is going to stand for this
or not. I should think that they would
refuse to accept such a recommended
ton for it certainly will play them up
against the wall good and hard. The
Rock Island hasn't an entry, as of
course every one knows. on this Usage
county field and the result viii be that
the Missouri Pacific and 50 lta Fe viii
be doing all Of the coal hauling into
Topeka. We viii have to revert back
to the use of the lump coal again. which
viii boom these operators in Usage. AS
I have said before the nut coal is cheap
eF innits use than the lump fflr $40
There is very little of this nut used
for domestic purposes" said another
4EHAEIr III is u5tu dllilOSl EAlLllEl4 LOt
steam purposes. Its an outrage the
way these Usage dealers are trying to
carry through their plans. Tt seems
that Topeka is held hand and foot to
the railroads and that it is getting some
OF the results of meek compliance. At
the present time while Topeka is pay
ing S1.40 on this lump rate from
Southern Kansas, this same coal is be-
ing brought through Topeka routed for
AtchisOn to which point the rate is
so cents Now tell me. if YOU can, why
such rate should maintained"
IT don't see why this nut coal
should not come in under the lump
rate. to tell the truth about it" said
Norman Wear of the Wear Coal com
panV. 'tIt is largely used for domestic
purposes and the cost is not very much
less than the lump.
At can't understand however" he
said. why a reduction in the rate
should be made to Emporia from the
Usage fields while the rate to Topeka
IS allowed the same. The haul between
Topeka and Burlingame in whose near
vicinity 80 per cent of the coal is
mined, is closer to Topeka than En-
pOria. That explanation of a shorter
haul to EmpOria doesn't seem to fit
into the facts of the case. Usage City
used to be nearer the center of the
coal industry but it is nO longer. They
have uncovered larger fields In and
about Burlingame and those at Usage
have about played out
1.-THE reduction was made to En-
pOria because the haul is shorter" is
the terse explanation which J. r.
Koontz. general freight agent, gave for
reducing the coal rate to Emporia
while leaving the rate to Topeka I'M
disturbed.
THAT is certainly a most foolish
statement to make" said another coal
dealer in Topeka. "I can scarcely be
lieve that he could have made such
an argument.
when Devlin was alive such rate
would not have been put through: he
would have fought it to finish He
always kept those Usage miners ia