The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-10
PUSH COAL INQUIRY
TILLiMAN CHARGES SENT TO COM
MERGE COMMISSION.
Senate Subcommittee Turns Over In.
vestigation Of Railroads and East
ern Coal Ports.

| Charges that the Southern Railway
had Disseminated against certain Ap-
palachian coal fields in the interests
of "coal trust" were referred to
the interstate commerce commission
for investigation in report publish
ed at Washington Thursday by the
Senate subcommittee that Investigate
ed them. The report held that only
a question of rates was involved.
The subcommittee Investigation
! resulted from resolution by Senator
Tillman. Extended hearings were
held, at which B. L. Dulaney, an in
dependent operator of Bristol, Tenn,
charged that the Southern had cut
off the natural outlet for coal from
his section by maintaining prohibitiVe
rates to Atlantic ports south of Nor
/! folk.
In it's report the subcommittee
said Dulaney had produced much eVl-
dence against the reasonableness of
these rates, but added that the South
ern had had no opportunity to pre-
sent its side of the case because ex-
haustion Of the funds appropriated
for the investigation ended the hear
ings.
The subcommittee recommended
that since the entire question now
was before the interstate commerce
commission, no appropriation be
made for further hearings.
The report concluded as follows:
"It is unquestionably true that the
rates in the territory covered by the
Southern railway are higher than the
rates on coal from the fields reached
by the Pennsylvania, Baltimore &
Ohio, Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake
& Ohio and all connecting lines in
West Virginia.
"It is not surprising that COM
plants should exist of the high rates
In the Southern territory by reason
Of the fact that coal abounds from
Alabama to the West Virginia mines
and the fields, generally speaking,
run parallel to and about equally dis
tant from the Atlantic seaboard. 1t
seems beyond dispute that the terri
tory lying between the coal fields and
the Atlantic ocean ought to enjoy
reasonable rates upon coal and that
it ought not to be necessary for the
ports south of Cape Hatteras to be
compelled to pay the combined rail
and water rates now existing in order
to receive this necessary commodity
"The Southern railway system was
established in 1894 and extends into
the coal fields from Alabama to
southern Virginia. It has not de-
veloped as coal carrying road as
have other railroads that reach the
coal fields.
"The reasons for its failure to DO
so can not be determined upon a par
tial investigation. Indeed the rea-
sons may be so important II the pol
icy hereafter shall be, as stated by
the general counsel of the company,
TO give to the movement of coal OF
the South Atlantic ports and into the
territory served by the Southern Rail
way company every reasonable facll1-
ty which the resources OF the COM
pany will permit.
"Since this investigation began the
Southern railway has commenced the
construction Of coal docks at Char
lesion, S. G.. It is claimed by Mr..
Dulaney that the installation of these
facilities has been due to this lnves-
tigation. The Southern. on the other
hand, contends that it had made ar
rangements to supply this outlet Tor
coal before the resolution providing
for the investigation was considered.
"Regardless of what the truth may
be with reference to this matter, the
fact is that the terminals are being
built and the rates on coal hereafter
will in all probability be as low as
obtained at Norfolk"