The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-17
INDEPENDENT COAL
OPERATORS WILL
ATTACK CONTRACT
Between Coal Corporation and the
Baltimore 8 Ohio Railroad
Company.
SUR BEGINS EARLY NEXT WEEK
Unless the Railroad Company Ar
ranges To Satisfy Dernonds
of Operators.

BALTIMORE. Nd, Jan. 17-Mr.
Frederick Dallam, the Baltimore at
torney, who with Mr.. w. A. Glasgow,
of Philadelphia. is preparing a bill
against the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road. alleging discrimination on the
part of the company in the distribu-
ton of its coal cars, has returned
from Philadelphia, where he con-
ferred with Mr.. Glasgow relative to
the preparation OF the bill. Suit
will likely be entered early nexr
week, ana IT rs probable that Balti-
more city will be the scene of the
contest, which promises to be one OF
the keenest legal battles yet fought
for the B. & o. is sare to muster It's
best talent to defeat the claims of
the Independent coal operators, who
are back of the suit.
Railroad Wants Conference.
1t is said that the railroad com
oany is anxious for a conference be-
fore the bill is fled, but he inde-
pendents refuse to confer, unless as.
surance is given them that their
grievances will be satisfactorily ad-
justed. Mr., Dallam has had con-
siderable correspondence on the mat
ter, but declines to while away the
time in what he terms useless nego-
tiations.' He holds to the opinion
that there is time enough for con-
ferences, If the railroad insists, after
the filing of the bill.
There are some who gravely doubt
whether the Baltimore & Ohio will
ever let the suit come to trial. One
Of the reasons advanced for this ne
lief is that it is extremely probable
that the Independents will make a
strong fight to have the B. & o. pro-
duce in court the contract between
the Baltimore & Ohio and the Bal
timore syndicate whereby interests
connected with the Consolidation
Coal Company took over the rail-
roads holdings in the coal company.
Coal Interests Involved.
1t will be recalled that on Febru-
AIRY 10, 1906. the supreme court rul-
ed that no railroad would be allowed
to hold stock in companies whose
commodities it hauled over its lines.
The Baltimore & Ohio, in conform
ity with this decision, announced that
it would dispose of its stock in the
Consolidation Coal Company. Presi-
dent Oscar C. Murray and Vice
President George F. Randolph and
Hugh L. Bond resigned from the
Consolidation board, and a syndi.
cate, known as the Baltimore syndi-
cate. took over the holdings of the
railroad company in the coal COM
pany. The members OF this syndi-
cate were Messrs. j. H. Wheelwright,
H. Crawford Black and C. W. Wat
son. Associated with them were
Gen. Van Lear Black, ex-Gov. A. B,
Fleming, S. L. Watson, Walton Nil.
Ter, j. E. Watson and L. L. Malone
of Fairmont, w. Va, all Of whom are
said to be large stockholders in the
Consolidation Coal Company. The
deal was a gigantic one. over S..
900, 900 changing hands in the trans.
action, 1t was announced. With the
transfer of the stock went the owner.
ship Of the Cumberland and Penn,
sylvania Railroad, the Fairmonl
Coal Company. the Somerset Goa
Company of Pennsylvania, the Clarks
burg Fuel Company, the Plttsburr
and Fairmont Fuel Company. and tn,
Southern Transportation Company
all West Virginia corporations; the
Metropolitan Coal Company, OF Bos
ton, and the Northwestern Fuel Com
pany, of st. Paul.
The official announcement at III,
time the deal was closed said thai
the syndicate was given 80 years II
which to make payment. It is ru
mored that the Independents will. ii
order TO show reasonable grounds
for discrimination by the Baltimor,
& Ohio in favor OF the Consolidation
Coal Company. attack the legality o.
this sale.