The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-26
Louisville Property Co. is the
Subsidiary Organization
STONE GOES ON THE STAND
Bell County Operator Says Rates Have
Been Lowered only Since South
ern Railway Became
Competitor.

Louisville, October 25.-The interstate
commerce commission convened here to-
day to investigate the alleged ownership
by the railroads of Kentucky of certain
coal and oil lands and also 10 inquire
into a reported shortage of cars to haul
the products of mines
dozen witnesses are slated for ex-
animation, among them being w. w.
Thompson treasurer; II. Ellis. secretary,
and C. o. Bradford, real estate agent of
the Louisville and Nashville railroad. Sew
eral Western kentucky coal operators
| will also be questioned.
In reply to questions Col Henry 1.
Stone, chief counsel for the Louisville
and Nashville railroad. said his road had
nothing to do with the recent raise in
the price of coal in Kentucky and that it
was not interested in oil lands in Ken
lucky or had 1t entered into any COM
bnation with the owners of coal lands.
He stated that the Louisville and Nash
Vile railroad was the principal stock
holder in the Louisville Property COM
| pany.
| T. Cairns of Grandview, Mich, agent of
| the Louisville Property company, was
questioned by Mr.. McChord. railroad
commissioner for Kentucky.
lie said the Louisville and Nashville
| railroad owned In Kentucky and Ten
nessee 1852 acres of coal lands and that
| the company operated one mine in this
territory and leased seven.
Asked who are the officers OF the Louis
Vile Property company Mr.. Cairns said:
Same as L. g. N. Officials.
| MIR. Milton IL. Smith, president of the
Louisville and Nashville road, is pres
ideRt of the company; w. l.. Mapothef..
first vice president Of the ltnuisvilie a.
Nashville road; IS Ice president; ~ r..
Ellis secretary of the Louisville and
Nashville road, rs secretary OF the COM
pany, and w. W Thompson. also of tho
executive department of the Louisville
| and Nashville. is treasurer of the Louis
| Vile Property company.
| Mr.. Cairns said that in addition TO the
| operation and leasing of coal mines and
lands in Kentucky and Tennessee the road
does an extensive timber business
How much was the gross earnings from
| the coal lands and mines last Year," Mr..
| Cairns was asked.
About $4,000"
Colonel Stone said the Louisville and
Nashville had abandoned its coal agency
| In Louisville three years ago.
| Max Barker Bell county mine opera
| tor said he had recently renewed a con-
| tract with the Louisville and Nashville
| for fuel coal at an advanced price. The
advance. he said, was due to the increased
| cost of mining. He SAID also that during
| the past year the Louisville and Nashville
| freight rates had been reduced to a num-
| Der of points, among them being Atlanta,
| and that the reduction stu held.
Competition Caused Reduction.
! He testified that competition with the
! Southern railway was the cause of the re-
| duction According to Mr.. Barker, rates
/ north of the Ohio river had been in
creased and the rate to Indiana had been
| increased so thar Mr.. Barkers mine had
| gone out of business In that state. lie adj
| mitted that Col. Attilla Cox Of Louis
| vile. a director of the Louisville and
| Nashville railroad. was a stockholder in
| his (Barker's) mine.
| Mr. j. II. Ellis, secretary of the Louis
| Vile and Nashville railroad testified that
the Louisville property company was sim
| ply holding company to take care of
the outside properties of the railroad, and
| that the officials Of the company were
serving without salary Tha railroad comp
| pany did not depend upon the coal lanh
| controlled by the holding company for
| its supply Of fuel coal. :