Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-12
new COAL Rates
ARE EXPECTED
SECRETARY TRoTTER OF IOWA
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
TALKS ON RECENT HEARING

suit from the coal case hearing just
held before the Iowa board OF railroad
commissioners, will mean an annual
saving Of quarter of million dollars
to the coal consumers of Iowa, accord
| ing to Secretary J. E. Trotter OF the
Iowa Commercial Coal association
Secretary Trotter brought this case
for his association and Is confident
that the railroad commissioners will
give a favorable ruling in the case
next fall.
He says that Iowa mines produce
about 100000 tons Of coal annually
Three million tons are consumed by
the railroads. he says, and two million
| by the ordinary citizens. These VIII
| be the ones to profit by the new rates.
according to Mr. Trotter. The saving
will probably be about Is cents on
every ton. according to the estimates.
Widen Iowa Market Field.
Another big advantage OF the new
rates for Iowa will be the widening OF
the market field for Iowa coal. Under
the present interstate coal tar1ns
Illinois coal has the best of the argu-
ment and can compete with the home
product because of discriminating tar
| ifs. Mr.. Trotter asserts. With the new
rates Iowa coal will have fair snow
for sale in Iowa
A feature Of the hearing OF the case
lust closed was that Of the interven-
ton of the manufactures OF Mason
CITY. They asserted that since the
present petition of the Iowa CONNER
cial Coal association had been filed the
railroads had denied them speclal
rates on coal which had been granted
for several years. These special rates
were lower tlan the scheduled iowa
rates, they said, and that since they
had been forced to pay the scheduled
rates their coal had cost them sac, 900
each month more than before. Other
cities will file like interventions
through the Iowa State Manufactures
association.
Trotter Is Hopeful.
The hearing closer recently
and attorneys will file briefs.
In talking Of the hearing Mr.. Trotter
expressed his satisfaction with the
showing that was made. He said that
there was absolutely no effort made
to refute the testimony the coal pro
ducers had offered showing that the
carriers for 20 many years had been
charging on local Iowa business very
much lower than the Iowa distance
tariff schedule, nor was there any at
tempt made to deny that In Illinois the
rates we're very much lower IMAM
either the Illinois or Iowa commission
ers' schedules. Not only Is this true,
but Mr.. Trotter also was pleased at the
acknowled cement that was made oy
General Manager Slifer OF the chicago
Great Western railroad and corroborat-
ed bv others to the effect that while
the cost of labor and material to the
railroads is claimed to be something
over $50 per cent of what 1t was Few
wears ago the net earnings OF the car
riers approximates or is in excess OF
35O per cent Of what it was at the
save time.
Upon being asked regarding the pc
tition for Intervention filed during the
closing moments of the hearing by At
torne- Carroll Wright as spokesman
for the number of the coal mines, Mr..
Trotter called attention to the fact
that one of the singers for this petit
ton represents mine that has gone
out Of business. There were but ten
interests that signed the petition for
Mr.. Wright and Ave Of them are In
terests that have enjoyed the most
favorable of the special rates made by
Iowa roads. The other five are large
sellers of coal to the railroad COM
panies. Mr. Trotter called attention
to this at being very important, as 1t
is unthinkable to believe that any pro-
ducers of coal who have at heart the
interest of those who are simply con-
sumers would disregard the interests
of the consumers by advocating in
creasing the rates above the figures
the coal producers enjoyed as a vol
untary gift by the railroads for so
many years.
Mr.. Trotter expressed himself sub
stantially as follows:
1--WE cannot believe that any opera.
tor singing this intervening petition
desires the people OF Iowa to under
stand that they are opposed to any
coal rate readjustment in Iowa that
will lessen the cost of fuel to the peo-
pie of the state
BOYS PLAY DISASTROUS