Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-12-31


Offices today. TO ascertain n any re-
ducton en- the freight rate on Utah
coal was a probability Of the next few
wcoks. developed decided view
against such move on the part OF S.
v porrah. assistant general freight
agent. From those clamorinR for
lower rates. an opinion much opposed
To that OF MI Derrah's was given by
State Senator Geo. n. Lawrence OF the
senate's committee on needful coal
legislation which is preparing a report
FOR the next session
TWO COAL OPINIONS.
The two opinions follow:
Bv S. v. Dorrah I'VE cannot re-
duce the freight ON coal 10 salt Lake.
Operating expenses hayo increased
steadily for two years The freight
rate was dropped once You must re-
member the Rio Grandc is mountain
road, ana requires three engines TO pun
an ordinary passenger train over Sol
der summit. To compare our rates
with rates for prairie hauls, e. unfair.
Besides this If we dropped the rate
from Castle Gate, the Union Pacific
would be unable TO meet the cut with
Wyoming coal and would withdraw its
coal from this market and alone we
could not ON AN the orders so that
disaster would surely come TO the COM
munity
BY State Senator George y. Law
renee: Utah is held Up FOR coal at the
very mouth OF the mine. through a pool
ms arrangement between the Rio
Grande and Union P~cinc railroads.
through which the rate is maintained
az The same point for Castle Gate
coal and Rock Springs coal. despite
tho great difference in distance OF the
haul. 7 thoroughly believe that Utah
people realize $50 we'll the present in
Justice, and that the demand Tor more
manufacturers and a price on slack
coal that VIII let them operate is grow
ing 50 steadily that there can be hut
one result. Either the people win as.
sert themselves ln the hext legislature
for railroad commission. or al the
least maximum and minimum rate
bill. or the railroads VIII or themselves
make q reduction 10 a fair figure before
this alternative Is forced. All through
the east retailers are glad TO take a
margin OF 80 cents per ton. Here they
take ~ per ton. There the mines are
glad 20 operate az profit OF 2S cents
per ton on the mine output Here they
operate for profit Of az least sl.50 per
ton Tho railroad even takes out more
pront than the mine, and the people
are not 80 patient perhaps as their
amount OF inactivity IN the past may
suggest 10 the officials. who could make
reductions and are not yet ready"
The coal situation continues 20 be
IN salt Lake commercial circles a
subject Of much discussion. This Is
because 30 many Of the merchants are
learning from this crisis what a power
big manufacturing interests would
have hnNufD lido Q Nsr.rr-ssrsH 81
ir mines. They claim that the next
move I'm business matters here will be
a cooperative one 10 help manufactur-
inE, and In this matter they are trying
70 ascertain Just what they can eN-
poet In treatment rom the railroads
and coal owners on the subject ~
manufacturing slack. At present they
feel that the rates are prohibitiye r.
p. Morris made a suggestion few
days ago that the railroads aud the
mines both drop the price 80 cents
per ton, as a way OF helping matters
along. while the pr asent stress re-
mains this putting the following
schedule into effect,
Coal az the mines. per ton ....S2. 90
Freight to Salt Lake ...... l.2b
Retail margin ....-.......--. 100
huulage -.--s--.--.-..--.- 30
Total ..-........-...... - 70
Advocates or this plan are loud IN
tlieir claims that the railroad would
sim be- taking out Tor coal a figure
three times as great as The 40 cent
rate b. has ON limerick for a haul Of
tho same distance. and that the coal
mlrcs would still be getting a profit OF
from 20 cents 20 81 per ton on coal.
az the cost OF mining was shown by
testimony before the recent legislative
committee 20 be from Sc cents 20 sI.25
al tn.
Tho interview with MI DeEEh this
morning however. apparently does
away with any Idea that the railroad
ia ready 10 act iu tho near future. Tho
tab Fuel cOmpanV.s Htatement show
ga that 80 holds that other reductions
must precede reduction in coal.
A BRICK STATEMENT
Acting ola suggestion from The
Civic league. that am attempt be- made
.o secure a general reduction Of 10
per cent in building materials, 20 stiln-
llatc a spring resumption, a series OF
interviews yesterday showed the lum-
ler mon willing 10 come down. n oth-
srs wiz. the labor element anxious not
.u make "a drop Do wages and today
Ir interview with j. 4. Cahoon OF tho
salt Lake Pressed Brick company de-
.lops the fact that he scouts the idea
.f "a drop m brick. "You can tell those
brick dealers dld business on the
margins they a.. we could make
Ir0p all right-but rs q fact wo don't
mako ro much aa 30 per cent az profit
l shave on from. We are ALREADY
I0Hn to just as iow margin as we
.au keep alive 0u. and you needn't u
ook Tor amy reduction. ~ can't Pc
u.de.'
RETAIL COAL
simon Bamhcrgcr dccaros most cm.
IhaUcallv that The drop M 500 for
umu coal made hy hls company. was
nade hy himself alone without ans
consultation Win anN ueIghbor In The
.uslnras. go says De- acted because ho
houTht Chat the time WAS r'ne tp
uake "a heE.nuing towards lower prices.
.Ud thgt so FAR uH he was concerned.
hr others could como Dob or stay OUT
ust fH fhor pleased. The Central Coal
ul 'okD company Was u0l quick 90
n.I1N euIf lItHnHrN fHr oIUE.nF r0m-
'HrH did ao tha sluU dlN ou which
'7mhrrger acici The Central com
lany is sul sell.us al ihc SO tate to-
Ias