Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-28
COAL SITUATION VICTIM
Prevented From Securing West
ern Coal, Sioux Cityans Pay
Big Price For Fuel
OMAHA RATES ARE MUCH LESS
Difference in Rate. Materially Affects
Price Of Consumers Winter Coal
Rill-commercial Club to Take the
Matter Up in Hope of Securing Ad-
justment.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to mes-Republican.
Sioux City, Dec. 2S.-Among the cit
les of the west which are victims of the
peculiar confiscation methods of the
Burlington and Union Pacific railroads,
which prevent western coal from be-
ing received on his market, Sioux City
is one Of the most pronounced exam
pies.
AS a result the average householder
will pay from S. to $40 more for coal
during the winter than would be paid
il the western coal could be secured.
At present Sioux City is dependent
entirely on eastern coal, and much
of this coal comes from Illinois. The
rate from Illinois miners to Sioux City
is 40 cents higher per ton than the rate
to Omaha, and the distance from the
Mississippi river to Sioux City is six
miles nearer than Omaha, via the Illi-
nois Central railroad, which hauls the
bulk Of the Illinois coal.
Shut of from receiving Wyoming and
western COAL dependent on the product
of the Illinois mines, Sioux City dealers
and consumers are forced to pay 40
cents per ton more freight than Omaha
consumers and dealers pay, tho the
distance is shorter to Sioux City than
to Omaha.
tz~ -
Sioux City pays higher rate from
Chicago and Milwaukee by Is cents
than Omaha, the Commercial Club of
Sioux City appointed committee
Year, ago to secure an adjustment Of
coal rates. The present situation has
made the need Of such an adjustment
urgent, and unless the rates on coal to
Sioux City are voluntarily adjusted, it
is expected that for relief in the coal
rates will be the first case which Sioux
City will bring before the interstate
commerce commission.
Prominent dealers in Sioux City have
been unable to secure western coal at
any price Orders placed three months
ago are still untitled One dealer had
an order for a car filed October l, and
before the car arrived in Sioux City
it was confiscated by railroad COM
pany for locomotives.
Another coal dealer placed an order
for ten cars of western coal early in
the season. The order was refused.
This firm has not been able to secure
pound of western coal during the
season OF 1906.
The difference in price OF the coal
oy,l ta iohf rot TO al
units Of expense which cause the Sioux
city consumer to pay high for his
warmth Western coal is considered
the best COAL and a ton of such coal
at $3.50 is cheaper by odds than ton
Of eastern coal at $3.50. And yet the
Sioux Cityan is compelled to buy east
ern coal and pay high price for it.
The Illinois Central Railroad COM
pany argues that the freight rate to
Omaha is regulated by the short line
rate" as the Missouri Pacific and Wa
bash railroads both bring Illinois coal
to that market by st. Louis The Mis-
souri, Pacific, however, has Intimate
traffic relations with the Northwestern
and is the short line from st. Louis to
Sioux City.
The matter of better coal rates will
probably rest until the new transporta-
ton committee of the Commercial club
is appointed next year, and it will be
named with consideration to the coal
situation.
Iowa Coal Men Kick On Rates.
Specialize Times-Republican.
Centerville, Dec. ,2S.-Southern Iowa
coal producers are preparing to assert
themselves with respect to railroad
freight rates.
A committee, which included David
Dinning, president of the Thistle Coal
Company, of Cincinnati; L. r. Rose
brook Of the Rosebrook Coal Com
pany Of Oskaloosa, and w. w. Oliver.
secretary and manager of the Center
vile Block Coal Company of Center
vile, visited Des Moines yesterday to.
confer with several Of the general
freight agents Of the Iowa railroads
who were attending rate hearing be-
fore the state commission
Joint rate arrangements are demand
ed by the coal men. A general reduc-
ton in Iowa coal rates would be asked
IL it were not for the assurance by the
railroads that the present discrimina-
tory rate situation will be remedied.
The interstate rates are much lower
than the Iowa rates and the result has
been that coal has been dumped into
iowa from Illinois at figure that the
Iowa industry can not meet.
It is not impossible that the legis-
lature will be asked for legislation
which will enable the railroad commits
sion to establish groups or districts,
the operating and producing mines N
which may take the same rates ire
spective Of distance. This is the sys-
TEN which is used by the railroads in
handling the live stock and most of
the other western products. Under the
present law in Iowa, the grouping ar
rangement is believed to be impossible.
BOTTLE OF HISTORICAL VALUE.
In Possession Of G. e. Taylor Of Ames
Lost for Years.
Special to Times-Republican.
Ames, Dec. CSC. e. Taylor, living
in Ames, has unearthed a bottle OF
great historical value because of what
it went thru years ago. 1t went uu
Pixies peak in 1885, and has since be-
longed to number of different persons
in four or five states. Mr.. Taylor has
had it for many years, but lost it and
just found it last week.