Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-01
FIRST BROADSIDE is fired
IN FIGHT ON Coal COMBINE
Indictment Submitted by Commercial Club Traffic Bureau
in its Statement to the Secretary Of State-Asks for
Grand Jury to Secure Necessary D,a;ls Charges
Agreement Between Producer, Carrier and Distributor

| Investigation mas convinced us that
reasonable transportation charges for
lump coal from the mines In Utah to
| Salt Lake City should not exceed 81 per:
| ton: that any charge in excess of that
sum Ia unreasonable ana excessive for
| the services performed. This is ,Lppar-
ent from the data hereto attached,
| marked Exhibit A." showing the
| rates for transportation OF coal in other
states. for no greater distance and UNI
der no less favorable conditions.
Our Investigation has further con-
WINGED us that reasonable price for
lump conl from the mines in this state,
fob. cars at Salt Lake City. should
not In any case exceed s2.T5 per ton In.
support thereof wo submit herewith
Exhibit 49," showing prices at destna-
Lon. FOR lump coal charged other COM
munlties, many of which are much less
favorably situated to points OF pro-
duction than Is Salt Lake City.
For handling and distributing lump
coal at Salt Lake City, a charge OF not
exceeding sl.50. we find, upon inquiry
and Investigation, to be regarded as
reasonable and just, affording liberal
remuneration to the distributor. Upon
the foregoing blss. lump coal should
reach the consumer at Salt Lake City
at 81 per ton, allowing all concerned
the producer, carrier and distributor
each liberal margin of profit
THE FORMER RATE.
On and prior to Nov. Is, 1903, lump
coal from Utah mines sold in Salt Lake
City. Utah. for s. per ton delivered,
and Wyoming coal at sa.25. On the last
mentioned date, the price of lump coal
was uniformly advanced to s5.75 per
ton, delivered. The Commercial club
at Salt Lake City, under the leader
ship of Its then president. Col. Edwin
T. Holmes, with the able assistance of
ex-Gov. Heber NJ. Wells took the mat
ter vigorously In hand. A personal APP
peal made to the late e. II. Hartman,
the then head of the Hartman system.
resulted in Il reduction In the price of
Wyoming coal mt the mine from s2.25 to
sL95 per ton. and the retail dealers in
Salt Lake City thereupon made a re-
duction of % cents per ton. The final
outcome of the efforts with the Denver
& Rio Grande system is clearly shown
by the telegram from George w. XIII
iner. then vice president of the Utah
Fuel company and Pleasant Valley
Coal cmpany, reading as follows:
"sunnyside. Utah. Nov. 81. 1903.
1t is with pleasure. through and with
the concurrence of General Traffic
}M unuScr# f1uSIS'Sa Oh tle -. q ~. ". ~.
r. Co., in matter of reduced freight
rates. that We are enabled to an
nounce to the public that effective
Nov. &c, 1903. the Utah Fuel company
and Pleasant Valley Coal company
will deliver lump and nut coal at the
price lat. prevailed prior to Nov. 10.
1903, salt Lake City and at other
points within the state where freight
rate OF 81, or more, per ton has here
toforc applied on lump and nut coal.
This will be reduction OF % cents
per ton on the freight rate; also a re-
;duction from s2.25 to 81 per ton on
lump and nut coal ut the mine. Lump
and nut coal will be delivered by our
company from It's yards in Salt Lake
City. at S. per ton. Parties In Salt
Lake City who paid $5.75 per ton on
and after Nov. &c. 1908. will be refund
cd T5 cents per ton through our Salt
Lake agencies. Dealers who paid in
excess of 81 per ton at mines. and more
than the revised freight rates, Will
he refunded the difference through our
general sales department (Signed)
GEORGE w. KRAMER,
Vice President"