The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-19
BEGIN IN EARNEST
Railroad Commissioners Hold
First Important Session.
-c in
Brickmakers Complain of Short
age of Cars. -
in COAL RATE CASE
Board Decides to Intervene in
Colorado Wyoming Suit.
Of Special Importance i'm Vest
ern Kansas.

The state board of railroad commits
sioners commenced this morning their
first important session since their in
auguration last January. During the
session of the legislature it was i'm
possible for the board to transact
much business.
Many important matters are before
the board today, and the session will
probably continue for several days.
On March IS the board of railroad
commissioners will meet with repre-
extended conference will be had in
terests of Kansas, Oklahoma and Tex
as at Wichita, Kan, at which time an
extended conference Will he had in
regard to the traffic and rate condi-
lions prevailing on the transportation
of grain and as to the reforms it is de-
sired to urge before the interstate
commerce commission. A meeting of
the interstate commerce commission
will be held at Topeka on April for
the purpose of hearing the testimony
and arguments in the case of the Far
mers, Merchants and Shippers associa-
ton VS.. the "A. T. S. F. and-the c. r.
I. & P. Railway companies, involving
the rates on grain from stations in
Kansas to Oklahoma and Texas points.
The board has interviewed on behalf of
Kansas in this action
Brick Makers Complain.
The Gas Belt Brick Makers associa
ton with headquarters at CherryVale,
Kansas, have filed a complaint with
the board of railroad commissioners
alleging that for the past six months,
the brick industry of the state has suf-
fered an unusual shortage of cars for
brick shipments. That the brick in
dustry furnishes an every day of the
year product for transportation and
should even during the months of
grain, stock and cotton shipments.
have such an equitable proportion of
all available cars in use operating in
Kansas as the annual monthly require
ments are of either grain, stock, cot
ton or any other commodity and petit
ton the board to ascertain whether or
not the brick industry in that locality
has been furnished with it's due pro-
portion of cars for the transportation
of it's product as compared with any
transportation. The board has set this
case for hearing al CherryvaIe, Kan
sas, on March 28th, al 10 a. m.
State Will Take Hand.
The board of railroad commissioners
will intervene in behalf of the state
in a case pending before the interstate
commerce commission involving The
rates on coal from mines in Wyoming
and Colorado, to stations in Kansas.
About the first of the year, the corn
mercial club of Ford. Finney, Gray and
Kearny counties, formed an organize
ton known as the Kansas Farmers and
Business Mems league, for the purpos.
of endeavoring to secure lower freight
rates. A. E. Helm of Wichita KAN
was retained counsel for the leag:le
and the above case is among the first
that has been instituted. The western
part of the state depends very largely
upon the mines of wyoming and Col
orado, for their supply of coal and the
outcome of this action is of immense
to the people of that nor
ton of Kansas. Heretofore, one OF the
chief objections on the part of the set
tiers in that portion of the state has
been the excessive cost of fuel.