The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-10

preston Tor some time. In 1901 ana
1902 the rate was SAX cents ton to
the lakes and in 1sOs-lsO6 was Ok
cents a ton to the lake ports, and In
1907 It was increased to ss% cents.
The new rate for May Is is announc, j
as fat 81 from the northern West
Virginia field. In stating what they
considered fair rate the bill Axes
the figure at SIX cents as Just end
equal to all concerned.
The petition further recltes that
conditions have not been changed
sush as to justify an increase, but that
the petitioners have paid the inereas.
ed rates not because they beIivel IT to
be reasonable,but because they had
to, and that SIX cents all this time
would have been fair.
Competitive Trade.
The petitioners aver that the lake
trade is a competitive business and
has necessitatel very large expense
in building 1t up. Expensive termln lis
have had to be constructed to handle
the trade and elaborate and aostly
equipment have. also been necessary
at lake points. To enforce the new
rate of 81 would mean practical de-
struction of this business and the loss
of many thousands of dollars to the
petitioners. The new rate woilI be
unjust aud unreasonable and would be
mere extortion.
The competitors of the Fat mont
operators, as reclted in section No. C
Of their petition; are miners In No. 8
district in Ohio and in the Plttsburg
district. At present there is iifferen.
tial in favor OF the Ohio No. 3 opera.
tors Of Tx cents and in favor of tie
Pittsburg operators of S4 GEMS. Tbs
alone is unreasonable and unfair. they
alleged, and with the new rate Will
give the Ohio No. s operators a differ
entail of Is cents and the Plttsburg
operators Of 70 cents.
Pennsy in Conspiracy.
They further allege that TIL in
crease is illegal in the differehtIal and
go on to make this sensational charge:
"Your orator AYERS that there is u
conspiracy between said B. & O., rail.
road and certain other corp .,ttt.l,
to wit the Pennsylvania Rrilroad
company, which owns large amount
of stock of the said B. & O., railroad
and in pursuance of which understand.
ing, agreement or conspiracy, the B.
& o., Railroad company Is about to file
as aforesaid, or publish and put Into
effect this Increased rate on shipments
from the Fairmont district to ports on
Lake Erie; that. this understa ding,
agreement or conspiracy results from
a desire on the part of the pennsyl.
vania railroad company to discrlr1in.
ate against the various miners and
slippers Of coal in the state of West
Virginia, and to create and induce an
unreasonable preference in favor of
the miners and shippers of coal in dis
tricts outside the state of West vir.
ginla, against said miners mi ship
pers of coal within the state Of West
virginia; and in futherance of this
desire, your orators are informed and
therefore charge, that the said Penn.
Gylrania company is using Its infiu>
encs to cause the rates from the bar.
ious districts in the state Of West vir.
Hnia, as well as the Falrmont district,
for the shipment Of coal to ports on
Lake Erie to be increased and that
the B. G o., Railroad company has
lent itself to the furtheranee of this
general plan of discrimination against
ne mines in the state of West vir.
stniA."
Lake Ports the Market.
The charges have created intense
interest. The case promises to be ono
that will attract wide attention and
will mean much for the future of the
Fairmont district and the GOAL fields
Of northern West Virginia. Should the
new rate have gone into effect It Is
alleged that the West Virginia opera.
tors would be unable to compete in
the market at all and the trade and
coal business in northern West Viz
ginia would be destroyed. This they
aver is the object OF the railroads
The principal market for all the cosl
from this district is to the laks ports
There It Is widely distributed over the
/ T,o,-4h &.,n,k W.. fa4, - - a.