The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-18
Commercial Club Traffic Bureau
Has a Few Things
to Say.
WHAT 1T IS DOING AND
WHY 1T Is DOING III
Purpose is to Make Clear Exist
ing Conditions as to
Coal Rates.

| Inc tOm1ne1C1dl tluD iIhlliC Duledu
has framed the following reply TO the
address of Judge f. +. Colborn, at the
meeting of the Real Estate association
Wednesday. in which Judge Colborn
gavo his reasons for resigning his mem
bership In the association and touched
upon the work of the traffic bureau:
The Commercial club traffic bureau has
had Its attention invited To the state
mcnt OF Judge E. i. Colborn contained
in The Tribune OF Thursday The state
mcnt is gwen largely 10 the relation OF
his reasons for Withd Ia wal from the Real
Estate association, but incidentally
touches somewhat upon the work and pur-
poses OF the traffic bureau. and partic-
ularly with reference TO It's present move
mont concerning the local freight rates
on coal
IL may not therefore. be improper for
the bureau to state that Its conduct as
relating TO the cost of coal Is now, and
very properly, restricted entirely 10 the
consideration OF It's railroad transporta-
ton, and 10 the best means for employ
ment In arousing the people OF the state
10 realization OF the necessity OF choos-
ing Legislature that will fearlessly per-
form its long delayed constitutional duty
In establishing maximum rates FOR The
railroad transportation OF coal within the
state. From the activity already mani
Tested by the railroad people and their
allies. OF which the bureau is well ad-
Jsed, Ii would appear that they are
much alarmed over the apparent prospect
that the bureau will be successful in Its
righteous undertaking,
Purpose of Bureau.
To the proposition that the people and
business interests Of the state OF Utah
are unduly suffering from the existing
unjust and excessive rates, It Is the pur-
pose OF the bureau TO make clear in every
proper way that may be considered most
effective. II Will then simply rest with
the people TO show by their own works
whether they want reasonable rates on
coal or not; but the purpose and Yolun-
teered duty of the bureau will have been
fully performed. The bureau is earnest
for the people; that is all, and 1t Is hoped
that its honest efforts Will find commen-
dation through the appreciation and ap-
proyal OF all good citizens.
Whether the prices Of the various
classes of coal at the mines in this state
are too high or too low tho bureau has
not undertaken, nor Will 1t undertake TO
say; That question is as foreign to the
inclination as II certainly is beyond the
power OF the bureau to either interfere
with or determine. and must be left for
solution by others, However, II reason
able and unvarying rates on coal arc fixed
by law. the development OF many addi-
tional coal properties and the marketing
of greater quantities OF coal VIII natu-
rally follow, thus affordlug independent
coal operators proper voice in determining
and fixing the mine price OF COAL now
largely in the hands OF subsidiary com
panics of the railways. and in one OF
which railways Judge Colborn from his
own statement appears to possess Il
salared interest.
Question as to Prices.
Whether. also. the prices charged by
the dealers in this city for the handling
and delivering of coal, with the various
factors Of expense and irreCnlarlty OF
service involved, are excessive or not may
at some future time be made the sub
ject OF investigation by the bureau.
whereupon the necessary steps Will he
taken In attempt TO correct any wrong
In that respect ascertained to actually eX-
list. The establishment OF Independent
yards by or through the agency of the
bureau might be found an effective rem
such course will be pursued If war
The bureau has so frequently heard the
threat that In the event OF local rates
on coal being brought to a reasonable
basis the coal production Of the state
will be diverted to other and, as alleged,
moro profitable markets. that It's repeti-
tion is becoming wearisome. 1t might be
to have somebody state just
where those better markets are situated.
which are capable of absorbing the enor-
nous tonnage of coal to be considered.
Where Power Lies.
The people and business men of the
entire state OF Utah arc not so utterly
threat might Imply They possess and
control vast amount Of competitive
traffic. the great value OF which to the
causes the revenues derived
from the local transportation of coal TO
shrink into comparative insignihcance.
They have also yet 10 learn that they rest
under any oonlpulsiou to bestow 1t upon
any particular railroad. The railroad In
teresfs mny we'll pIGft by this sugges-
ton.
Judge Col5orn states that he is not
railroad man. Which may account for his |
to state that, IN the hauling OF
native coal 10 this valley, the grade
limo of the railroad cniehy concerned is
with :ha loaded oar. net against 1t, and |
which is well known factor of first inn
portancc in railroad operation.
The Judge may be definitely assured |
that the crgapiaaticn a6d work of the |
bureau is wholly without political Intent
or character. and that rot one of It's |
active members has tic most remote am |
bition toward rel 'itical preferment OF any |
character; certainly Of none which could |
by any possibility trace its origin to tile |
and york Of the CIIGau.