The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-14
ROADS UNFAIR TO CHARLESTON
SO SAYS TII.LMAN WHO PRE-
SENTS RESOLUTION FOR IN
QUIRY INTO COAL SIT
CATION.
Senator Charges That Railroads Arc
Under Control OF Hostile Financlcrs
Who Seek To- Divert Business from
Chief Seaport of South Carolina.


that the Southern railway was dom
mated by men not financially inter-
ested i'm coal mines in its own terri
tory but in mines elsewhere and that
for this reason the Southern was not
allowed TO move coal through the
port of Charleston. S. c. Senator Till
man today introduced a resolution for
n special investigation by the naval
affairs committee into advantages OF
Charleston as permanent point for
coal distribution as compared with
Norfolk and other Chesapeake bay
ports.
The committee would be directed to
investigate the character and proX-
unity OF ne coal supply; rates OBJ
tainable ON coal from fields near
Charleston and Norfolk; relations be-
tween railroads leading into Charles
ton and other South Atlantic ports
and between these railroads and own
ers OF bituminous fields in Virginia,
West Virginia. Pennsylvania, Tennes-
pee and Kentcuky; and conditions OF
ownership OF wharfage property in
Charleston and Norfolk.
Senator Tillman set forth that "it
appears from numerous complaints
before the interstate commerce COM
mission as well as from other sources
that the power and influence Of the
socalled coal trust is being persistent
ly used through the management Of
the railroads reaching Charleston to
prevent the free movement OF coal
not belonging to the coal trust, prac-
tically all OF such roads being ac-
tually dominated by the same flnan-
oial interests that control the great
'ctm combines nnding outlet chiefly
through New York harbor, Philadel-
phia and the Chesapeake bay ports"
Mr.. Tillman declared in his reso-
luton that 'in view of the early com
pletion OF the isthmian canal and OF
its importance to the United States
navy and OF the national defense gen.
orally. TO the development OF an
American merchant marine ana TO
the development of trade with Central
and South American countries. the es-
tablishment of adequate coal sup
ply facilities south OF Cape HatteraS
is deemed imperative. and the only
available harbor having sufficient
depth for the modern battleships and
larger merchant vessels, as we'll as ex-
;ensive water frontage for the proper
handling OF coal. is located at Char
lesion. :. c."
Arguing that tho efficiency of the
American fleet AMI the usefulness OF
Charleston as a coal distributing CEN
tre depend upon facilities Of pro-
ducers for reaching that port. Sena-
tor Tillman said
The efficiency OF the fleet and the
usefulness and efficiency OF Charleston
as a coal distributing centre must
necessarily depend upon the facilities
OF the coal producers for reaching
that port. and OF their ability to
procure distributing facilities. and
upon the ability OF the shipping in
terest to procure rating and handling
facilities In manner which should be
un1ualifodly accessible to- all ship
pers and carriers alike on the same
terms and conditions.
THE Southern railway is domi-
mated by lnancicrs. who are not imam
cially interested In the coal mines of
the territory travcrsed by the South
ern railway. but who are interested in
coal properties elsewhere, and due
men 1t Is believed that the Southern
to- the power and influence of these
railway Is not allowed To move coal
through the port OF Charleston.
where coal might become Competitive
to- their larger interests elsewhere.
AS concrete example of the
fragrant abuse OF power. the Southern
railway. having had for ten years its
own rails reaching from Charleston
to the great developed coal fields of
Virginia. Tennessee and Kentucky,
and reaching developed mines with IA
present annual capacity OF from -
100000 To 15,O0O.OOO tons OF coat,
which has no other outlet to tide
water has moved no coal for outlet
at that port. and has made no provi-
Gion for docks. Notwithstanding the
fact that II controls its own riparian
privileges at Charleston
1T ia believed that Efforts arc now
being made ny individuals acting for
tho socallcd coal trust To acquire the
right for Co"i docks and terminal fa-
"llitlcs I'm Charleston so as to- monopo-
lize tho terminal facilities there i'm