The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-16
COAL RATES ARE
ALL EQU|.A|L.|zE.ID| u j
n. & w. Cuts 1t Rate to Rich
mond. and c. & O. to Peters
burg and Norfolk.
is INVESTIGATION FEARED?
INVESTIGATION FEARED?
'udden Move on Part of Rail
roads May Mean Alarm at
Public Disapproval

Following fast on the announcement
made yesterday Ivy the Norfolk and
Western of q cut ON the coal rate 10
Richmond, which meets the Chesapeake
and Ohio rate OF s1.6o. comes the In
teresting news that the Chesapeake and
Ohio will cut Its rate on coal to Peters
burg, Norfolk and Portsmouth. meeting
the Norfolk and Western rate of $leO.
1t has been said for some time past
that the territory in Virginia was divided
by the roads under the domnationio of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and that by mems
of prohibitive rate published by the
Norfolk and Western. Richmond and
Newport News We're furnished coal by
the Chesapeake and Ohio, while for u
like prohibitive rate published by the
Chesapeake and Ohio, Petersburg, Nor
folk and Portsmouth We're handed over
to the Norfolk and Western.
On yesterday the Norfolk and Western
published a rate of SLIGO to Richmond,
while the Chesapeake and Ohio at once
announced that its rate to Petcrsbllrg
Norfolk and Portsmouth
This means that the combination, If any
existed. for the division of territory has
been broken for the time ut least by tho
roads under the authority OF the Penn
+ & ~
What is the Significance?
Coming as It does ut u titnc when the
Whole county Is aroused over the OUT
come Of proposed rate legislation, tho
news OF the equality of rates published
by the Chesapeake and Ohio and tho
Norfolk and Western is full OF sgniff-
cance. think some.
IT may mean that the Pennsylvania
Railroad authorities are alarmed at tha
expression OF popular disapproyall and
have instructed the dominated roads to-
90 90 away WITH ss unpopular combinations
for the present, according to others IL
means that the letter lately written ~
< the tVlrgintl Corporation Commission to
( the President complaining of tho dis
Ecrimination in rates, beyond It's control.
has had wholesome effect, is another
Interpretation. gl rs
Whatever the cause may be, the re-
suit Is that Richmond, Newport News,
Petersburg. Norfolk and Portsmouth have
now the samo ratio OF SLIGO, published
both by the Chesapeake and Ohio and
the Norfolk and Western.
Certainly No Rate Fight.
That there seems to be no rons con "a
fear Il rate fight between the two roads
is evident from a sta atement made last
night to u Times Dispatch reporter by
General Freight Agent Hotchlxlss, who
said: 5s s{
1.-THE Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company has no intention Mt this
time to make any reduction in the
ratio on coal to tIichmond.,'
When asked IL he had read a report
in MI afternoon paper regarding prob
6able rate war between tho chesapeake
and Ohio and Norfolk and Western, lie
replied that he Ind read the report, hut
that 1t was simply the imagination of
some ono not connected with other tho
Chesapeaka and Ohio or the Norfolk ana
Western roads. Mr.. IIotchklss contln-5
gued: M
"Thero Is absolutely nothing in the
story thilts there is a. fight on between
tho roads, There Is nothing In tho
,:rlmor that the two roads have or
4 had divided tho territory, and there
Z Is no truth In the statement that tho
Chesapeake and Ohio will cut the "
prcsent rate on conl to Richmond,
Tho rate IS $3.50, and wo will mains
tain@it. Tha Norfolk and Western &
had 1sthe right to reduce Its rate to
Richmond. and it took advantag 4 of 4
that right, That Is the whole story.
",The Norfolk and Western simply
4 named tho sanle lslt that the Chestt-
peake and Ohio Ind already named,
xii ~ intend, however, to at once puh-
a8Es fCtontinued# on Second Pa &c. .la sss3' \