The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-22
Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations
may she always be in the right; but our country. right or
"rons STEPHEN DECATUR.
INJUSTICE OF INCREASED ORE RATE

In another a o this issue OF The Inteuirencer appears the con ,,.tD,
80 S the Wheeling Steel and Iron Company before the Interstate Com
meree hearings, at Pittsburgh. against the unjust ana dsc5nins,o~ go -
SsHs rates To- pre- which seriously handcaps fl in competition with te
more aVored concerns. especially the United states Steel Corporation dian.
ms Is nt a plea alone FOL the Wheeling Steel and Iron COMPANY hut for an
uepenaen plants operating in the Wheeling district. for ANYTHING ,a,
- ""'S IBIS company sequentiany has a disturbing effect on the
en n community and the related industries and business n the district
""eh Is largely F'en over to the manufacture II iron anu steel produ,ts
tret and 81 ceus to Pittsburgh This difference Va on -.
@huAs ue pittsburgh district enjoyed in coke and limestone This rate
- =" d number OF years during which the railroad companies never
complained that the 60 cent charge ws not enough. he net r.ceInrs =, -
10 e1h year an during a part Of this period they received a
- - =" sGretI eoates M allowance Why. then, "a this
rate changed irom o. to IS cents for the Wheeling district and dscrasaa .
$50 s'"" o'ahA OF tn plants in this district? The
andiea to te Wheeling Steel and Iron Company is more than appears ON
IT, CO. o1 o"ms !" IN marked depreciation in recent years n the
ron content OF ore IL takes two tons Of ore to produce n ton " ron which
Ihese M other srave iHjusthces are pointed out by the Wheeling steel and
i%n protest m must surely make an impression OF the Interstate con.
missions ense OF fairness.
Behind the nonapPearanec Of the United States Corporation n this
complaint mes very uy suggestion Il own plants in this dstHct. but II
It's nearest plant nt affected by such Increase Thus the steubeBvle rn,s
are arbitrarily assigned 10 the pfrsburrb gis,rs, ,na r. %"S
the Wheeling district and the rate there is only 70 cems Thersa are boreva-
grsver reasons than this for its reucence in joining in the profess ~ ,e
Wheeling Steel and Iron complaint sets form = ,anv15. IT. a. a. "a. ~
steel Corporation. that the independent manufacturer not only is compelled
to stand excessive freight charges in order 10 roach nj cn,nmoo 80, -
confronted with extreme difficulty when he seek to interest large buyer,
because OF VIA is known 10 be the influence Of the Steel Corporatiop with
the railroads" It is further ntimsted that the preser, rerrTaa -"
between the steel Corporation and the railroad. is similar to a practice in.
duiEed in som some years ago By another big corporation which led tho
courts to declare it a trust and a menace to legitimate trade obviously his
Is hamperng and wholly unfair 10 the independent and the small nanufact7rer
and distinctly at variance with the law Of The land
The hardships inflicted on the Wheeling Steel and Iron cou,psry ara.
the greater because o. the extraordinary improvements they made under the
na'ura belief there would be no increase In the cost Of transporting ore from
.Se po' "" IaWeI q 'alcIon On account OF ibis increase in rates It
IA ben compelled 20 pay $4,000 in excess 81 what b. would have cost
under tho old adequate rate which will be- further increased when the plants
Of the company are operating to capacity
The record presented seems To- The Intelligence 10 establish the ran
Injustice of the Increase and that the present existing rate from lover AXE
carder anywhere n Tho United States for rendering a similar s.ryi-. p.,,
me o1ueuo " ION OF pig iron which be- anything but carrying out the
instruction OF ne Interstate comHorc" Commission for an equaIGed rat.