West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-16


been false hope.
No sooner was this act of the Exec.
utive Committee OF the Chesapeake a
ONO made known. than q meeting OF
the executive heads OF the Pennsylya
nit Lines, the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail.
way. the Is. q o. Ry.. the N. & w
Ry., and the l.. & N. Ry. was called for
New York City, where they were Join.
ed In conference by representatives
OF strong financial interests" The
outcome OF the conference was that
the Chesapeake a Ohio was induced
to withdraw from it's announced atti.
tude and agree to Join the other rail.
ROADS In filing new tariffs, with ad
vanced rates, to the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
AS the dispatches, published al the
time. reported, the G. q o. held out
against the rate increase until the
Fennsylvania Lines agreed to file new
tarirs increasing its rates to CORE
spond with the increases formerly pro
posed for the West Virginia coal car
rying roads.
The situation, 30 far as II affects
West Virginia and her coal industry.
has not been benefited by the new
status in the slightest. 1t is not en-.
tirely certain that the new proposition
has not made bad prospect worse.
The Pennsylvania Lines apparently
do not go into the contest for ad
vanced rates in good faith. They
merely project themselves into the
lineup for the purpose OF inducing an
other important carrier to become q
part OF Its own scheme The pennsyL
vania does not want its own rates I'm.
creased. Had IL so wished, Il would
have proposed increased rates at the
earlier date. when II induced the N
& W. and other West Virginia roads &c
give notice to their shippers that they
would increase their rates. They are
In the rate-increasing game temporar
lily. only, to satisfy the demand OF the
G.. & o.
Not wanting it's rates Increased. Il
can not be imagined that the Penn
sylvania Lines will vigorously press
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission any such demand. And. even
II II should honestly and vigorously
contend for the increase, II is incon.
ceivable that the Interstate Commerce
Commission would find the demand
1ustifiable. Or, even In the event that
the Commission should grant the I'm
crease upon the request OF the Penn
sylvania, there is not the slightest
guarantee that the Pennsylvania would
make them effective. The Pennsyiya
MIA has less claim for increased rates
for carrying coal into Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois than any OF the other rail
roads entering into the rate-raising en-.
terprise. Which fact will doubtless be
urged with much force by shippers on
the Pennsylvania Lines.
BY agreeing to join in the request
for higher rates the Pennsylvania has
gained it's point II has committed the
c. & o. to It's own scheme to boom the
coal business outside OF West Virginia
and bust II inside our state. 1t has
several chances to lose before the
Commerce Commission as to It's own
increase OF rates, all OF which chances
IL VIII, doubtless. cunningly promote.
But, should IL win a bogus victory. n
can throw It's fruits to the winds al
any moment IL may choose to do so.
BE IL understood that a decree OF the
Commission. permitting the railroad to
increase rate, does not operate as an
obligation upon the railroad to put n
into effect. AS, for instance, the N. e.
w. was granted the right to increase
Its rates on coal to the North. several
years ago, In a similar proceeding.
while the other West Virginia roads
were denied the right. AS a conse
quence, the ". A w. did not avail
Itself OF the right granted. but main.
tained It's old rates.
Let IL be understood by the people
or West Virginia, who are so vitality
Interested In this rate proceeding, that
the pennsylvania Railroad does not de-
sire that It's rates on coal to points
in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan shall be
Increased. Judging from the stand.
point OF the interest OF the PennavIva.
MIA, 10 wants It's own rates to remain
as they are, while those OF the West
Virginia roads carrying coal to the
same points shall be raised. The coal
operators OF West Virginia understood
the whole scheme to be one OF the
pennsylvania making. 70 do exactly
that thing.
IL Is we'll enough understood by ALI
concerned that, with the proposed new
rates In effect, West Virginia coal can
not compete in the markets affected
by the Increase. Is that fact OF any
concern 20 the railroads that are pro
posing The Increased rates7
The railroads are not proposing any
Increase on coat consigned to Gincin
nau Indianapolis and Chicago. or Ger
Gain circumscribsd zones surrounding
those cities. Yet, Co other points not
more remote to the West Virginia coal
helds' and which can be served with
equal facility, advanced rates are pro
mulgated that will make Impossible
the marketing OF West Virginia coal
The immediate. irrevocable conse
quence Of the proposed act OF the rail-
roads Is, therefore, that West Virginia
coal can reach certain coal markets
OF the North and West, but IL Der
emptorily excluded from other mar
kets In the same territory. As 10
gPether such design Is back OF the
present combination OF the railroads,
every ons must draw bis own conclu
Certain II is that. by similar arbl
uary establishment OF rates, as we'll
az arbitrary tTaffio exclusions on the
part or railways. not q ton o. West
virginia coal can reach the markets
or Philadelphia and New York, no mat
ter how great may be the demand for
our coal product In those cities. The
same Is true as 70 Baltimore, excep
1ost he y. 4 o. may carry the coal
PfOouct OF 10 lines 10 that city.
II has been p6inted out with fire.
qasncy that the West Virginia rail-.
roads 90 not stand In need OF advanced
rates on coal II IL by no one urged
mat the existing rates are not re
munerative. On the contrary, n has
been shown that the railroads derive
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