The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-10-17

i ~. 4 IN x,
Whose xistence and Operation
Depend Mainly on the
Haulage Of oal. i
The proposed advance Of ffteeu
cents q ton on the hhaulage OF coal
from West Virginia to the, markets
of the North and West, in addition
to demoralizing the coal Industry Of
this state, would bankrupt three OF
the most important railroads trayer-
sing the state. They are the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, the Norfolk and
Western and the Kanawha and Mich
igan. ~ z X
This is the opinion OF coal men
and those engag ed In other industries
IN this state and was formed after q
careful consideration OF the possible
aHect OF the proposed advance.
The fifteen cent advances wonid
make a dfnerential In Ohio and West IN
Virginia coal so great that the west
virginia operator would be unable
70 enter the markets with the opera.
tors Of Ohio and other states on 4
comp titive basis. This would er-
iclude West Virginia coal from the
markets to such an extent that the
depressing effect OF the advanced
rate would revert to the railroad
companies that are clamortng for IL.
Serious Enough.
The following article, showing
Wherein the railroad Companies
would share the fate OF the coal. oper,-
ators IN event of a rate advance. was
prepared by Wightman Roberts. &c
Huntington: s ,.s
The propo ton to increase the
freight rate fifteen cents d ton on
coal mined in West Virginia and NOV
Ing West is serious enough, II car.
Red into effect. 1t Is a serious one
for the railroads Themselves. For
unless a corresponding increase 10
made in the rates on coal moving ii.
to the same markets from competing
Iftelds In Ohio and Pennsylvania. 1T
means the exclusion Of SO large a;
volume Of West Virginia coal from!
these markets as to practically banks
rupt certainly three OF theni-tfe
Chesapeake and Ohio, the Norfolk
and Western and the Kanawha and
Michigan. & s. =
Western Shipments. u
Fully fifty per cent. OF the tonnage
OF the first two. and all the tonnage
OF the last named is derived from
the operation Of mines shipping their
product west. and no part Of which
can possibly move against any higher
ldifferential in rates than now;sis in
force in favor Of Ohio and western
pennsylvania coal twenty-five cents
a ton. g (. Z. sl'S
1T may be Of interest," to state that
freight diferentials are not imposed
with any purpose to equalize natural
;condi tions. but only distance Of geo.
graphical differences. The Ohio. and
certain districts in Pennsylvania hayv-
ing the advantageo OF nearness to CEN
tiers OF coal consumption In Ohio.
Illinois and Michigan, az. compared
to the West Virginia mining fields,
they have been given a twenty-five
cents per ton lower rate than, the
Goals mined In the latter. This sconi.;
pensates the railroads for the lower
haul on West Virginia coal. But BY
reason Of the better qualities Of West
Virginia coal and because Of the more
favorable conditions under which it
Is mined, it has been able to make
good to the consumer this difference
In the way of price and still sell In,
competition with the Ohio and Penn
sylvania prod ucers. AS 8
Notwithstanding their protection
OF twenty cents q ton, the Ohio
mine operators, In particular, have
not been able to hold their markets
against the West Virginia product.
Hence they have started a Campaign
to compel the railroads carrying their
coal to lower the rates for them, set
ting up the plea thatsthe natural adj
iyantages-the advantages OF thicker
seam. better heat values, lower wage
rates. and other natural condf tions
surrounding operating miners In
West Virginia had displaced their
Goals among consumers In their own
state. despite their rate diferential
of twenty-five cents a ton. And,
therefore, they appeal to their state
Judiciary and legislature to make
good to. then; their def iencyat the
expense of the railroads. v '5
The Same Effect.
Now the railroads, Knowing that
state tribunals are often swayed BY
popular opinion and by politics. had
little reason to doubt that the Ohio
state commission would. at the de-
3mand Of Ohio operators, reinforced
by union labor and poll Ideal eadefs.
ordering the lowering OF rates on
Ohio mined coal transported to Ohio
points. This would have the same
effect, SO; far as the Ohio producer
was concerned IN marketing his coal.
Ia the imposition Of q higher rate
upon coal mined In. West Virginia
and sold IN Ohio or elsewhere: fit
would keep out West Virginia Goals,
It would compel consumers to use
Ohio or Pennsylvania coal. And
since two tons Of West Virginia; coal
are equivalent in value to about three
and one-half tons Of the best Ohio
naa1 al, a ann ~ a ., xxvn,,VA HsaVsVe..s