The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-30
COSTS TOO MUCH
Scott County Worried About
the Coal Rates.
Now Make Colorado Fuel Almost
PrOhibitive.
APPLIES TO BOARD.
Representative Rochester and
Commissioner Coffin Here.
Will Probably Await Interstate
Commerce Decision.

Paul Rochester, member of the leg
islature from Scott county, and E. E.
Coffin, county commissioner of Scott
county. came to Topeka today and pre-
scented to the state board of railroad
commissioners petitions signed by 500
residents of Scott county asking the
board to take some steps to secure bet
ter rates on coal from Colorado points
to Scott county.
The railroad commissioners stated
TO the Scott county representatives
that the issues involved in the Scott
county case will all be adjusted in the
Garden City case which is now pend
Ing before the interstate commerce
commission. This satisfied the Scott
county delegation, and they returned
to their homes this afternoon.
The following is the petition which
was filed with the board:
I'VE the undersigned citizens of
Scott City and Scott county pray and
petition your honorable body for your
help in getting us just and fair rate
on coal from Colorado by interceding
with the interstate commerce commits
sion. The rate at present is very I'M
fair and unjust to us. being $3.50 per
ton from all Colorado points. while
from southeast Kansas, which is al
most double the distance from Colo
RADIO, the rate is $2.35 per ton. Our
rate is also higher than it is for 500
miles further east. We urge you to
take immediate action that we may
have the relief and benefit in time to
get our winter supply of fuel
Some of the members of the state
board of railroad commissioners think
that the people out in western Kansas
should use the Kansas coal al the
lower rate. but the western Kansas
people prefer the Colorado COAL In
speaking of the matter this morning,
E. P. Rochester said:
No one who has an opportunity to
Colorado
City, or other good Colorado mines.
Will care to use the coal from south
eastern Kansas mines. The Colorado
coal makes more heat and less ash,
and is more economical. 1t isn't full
of slate and sulphur. as are some 9TH
er kinds of coal. We ought to have Il
lower rate on the Colorado coal, that's
all there is to it,
One of the railroad commissioners
said a few days ago in speaking of the
western Kansas complaint:
Il have been carrying ashes from
eastern Kansas coal for good long
time and it hasn't hurt me any. Some
of the new shafts which have been
opened in the eastern Kansas field are
producing as fine a quality of coal as
anybody could desire. The western
Kansas market should be given to the
Kansas coal. 1t would mean an added
consumption of $4,000 carloads of
coal every year, and the Kansas min
ers would not have to lie idle half the
year Seems to me that state pride
ought to lead the western Kansas peo-
ple to use Kansas COAL
The complaint in the Garden City
coal case has already been heard by
the interstate commerce commission,
through deputy, and the evidence
Will be presented to the commission
in the form of manuscript at Wash
iIigton. IT is not likely that the case
viii be decided until late in the fall.
Chairman Kanavel, of the state
board. said this morning in explain
ing the situation to the Scott county
representatives.: eff the Interstate
commerce commission orders a lower
rate made on Colorado coal to Garden
City, and points on that line, a similar
reduction will follow on coal to Scott
City, and points on that line. What
ever is decided in one case will be the
order in both. I do not think it will
be necessary for this board to inter-
vene. If the board finds at any time
that it can be of assistance to the
Scott City people by taking a hand in
the controversy. it will be glad to do
So"