The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-03-23
OF West Virginia and Penn
sylyania Along Sew
eral Lines.

tt1t tAeIt ~ q keen and increasing
business rivalry between West Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania has been
demonstrated by recent proceedings
Before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, as well as by other recent
events.
In the c3al industry, in the man.
ufacture OF cement, in the iron and
steel business, West Virginia seems
TO be making heavy inroads upon
the Psnnsylyanians and while not as
vet endangering the larger states
supremacy, Is annoying the pro.
ducers or these materials in West
Virginia's neighbor on the north.
n There has been intense rivalry be-
tween the coal producers OF the two
states for long time, In the
earlier periods OF West yirglnia's
coal production the Pennsylvanians
paid little attention to West vir-
glnia. The operators OF the larger
stale saw that. rates were satisfac-
tory to them and there was constant
complaint among West Virginia OPP
orators against the diiferential in
coal rates In favor of Pennsylvania.
But the West Virginia coal pro-
ducers kept at 1t and in spite OF hay-
ing to pay higher rates on coal than
their northern neighbors they began
to increase the production OF the
state till 1t is now second among the
coal producing states OF the United
States.
with an annual production of APP
proximately 60,0o0,OOO tons, every
one OF which is the equal in quality
of the Pennsylvania coal and some
its superior. Pennsylvania feels
keenly the competition from the liz
tie state south of 1t. BY reason OF
superior facilities, superior manage
ment and different means Of
handling men, and not through the
favoritism of railroads, the West
Virginia operators have become q
factor in the coal trade with which
Pennsylvania, even with its tre-
mendous output, has to reckon.
s,And because OF the competition
from West Virginia, which the
larger state fees so keenly, the
PENNSYLVANIA. operators have begun
an attempt to induce the United
States government to come to their
assistance and protect them from
The competition OF West Virginia.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has been appealed 10 iby the
Pennsylvania coal and coke pro-
ducers to increase the freight rates
Oh coal from West Virginia or to
reduce the rates from Pennsylvania.
For more than a week recently
West Virginia Goa. producers and
lawyers were before the Interstate
Commerce Commission in a hearing
as TO the coal rates from West Viz
ginia 10 the lakes. In few weeks
the Pennsylvania coal operators and
lawyers will have an inning as to
their rates and the Interstate Com
merce Commission will then take
the entire question under advise
ment. The proposed advance on
West Virginia coal has been sus-
pended till September 10, 'by which
time the commission hopes TO have
found out what would he a proper
rate and whether Pennsylvania
needs protection from West Vir-
ginia In the coal business.
The jealousy of the Keystone
state of West Virginia has been
shown again before the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the COM
splaint fled by the Alpha Portland
Cement Company, operated in Pres
ton county, w. Va. In this COM
plant 1t Is alleged that the United
States Steel Corporation, operating
company which makes Portland
cement in Pennsylvania. has infiu'
enced railroads in which 1t is inter
ested to discriminate against the
Z Alpha Portland Cement Company in
order to prevent it from selling It's
product in competition with thai
produced in Pennsylvania.
West Virginia is in no sense
large competitor OF Pennsylvania II
the manufacture of Portland ce
men;, having, according to the las
published report OF the Geological
Survey, but one factory for thu
manufacture of Portlant cement
while Pennsylvania has II and it,
output is more than one-third thu
total output o. the United States.
but. while Yves Virsinia's outpa
OF Portland cement is small, Penn
sylyania has learned that the small
beginning is not TO be despisea
through its experience with Yves