The public ledger., 1917-01-19
BURGEN & BROTHERS
or Louisville Proceed TO Roast Mays.
VILE IN a Very Interesting Manner
In Col Hiram Duley's Organ,
The Flemingsburg Times
DemOcrat-Reply by
Mr.. Boone.

The article appended appears in
this weeks issue Of the Flemingsburg
Times-Democrat:
We do not know who Burgen &
Brothers are, and we do not vouch for
the truth of the statements made in
the communication printed below. II
they are true the good people OF that
town ought to remedy the evils COM
planned of. If they are not true the
people of Maysville will know it. AS
public journal the Times-Democrat
will give the Maysville men attacked
an opportunity to be heard within a
reasonable limit Of space. The COM
munication was mailed from Louis
vile, postmarked on January Is, and
is az follows:
To the Editor of the Times Democrat
Flemingsburg, Ky.
| am taking the liberty of reaching
the people of Maysville through the
medium of your valuable journal, for
the reason that it will not be possible
to reach them through their own
papers, on account Of certain interests
that control them. My associates and
myself have been looking over the
different towns on the Ohio river be-
tween Newport or Cincinnati and be-
yond Portsmouth. We find that there
are not better factory sites to be found
along the river than can be found at
Maysville The city has a long water
front, advantages of two railroads,
water, gas and electricity, and good
electric car line. But the high cost of
living and the extreme price asked for
ccal, prevents us from locating In
Maysvlle. The cost for provisions
and more especially for coal, Is higher
than in any town along the Ohio river
| find that there is a combine to put
coal up to the highest price. Upon in
vestigation among the dealers | found
coal running in price from 26 to 30
cents bushel in Maysville. 1t can be
bought in other towns at much lower
price, ranging from IA to 10 cents a
bushel. At a little town outside OF
Maysville, called Helena, was offered
coal in any quantity at 13 cents per
bushel. Coal in Cincinnati, Newport
Covington and Portsmouth Is selling
for $3.75 to $3.50 a ton. The same Goa
is selling in Maysville from $500 to
$3.50 per ton. Provisions, butter and
eggs are also selling at greater price
than in any other town along the
Ohio. When we look for factory
site, we must select one that will moi
only benefit us but also our employees
Even if the site suits us, and the
cost of provisions and coal is high, We
do not locate.
Maysville people stand in their own
light. Certain interests control not
only the best factory sites, but they
are interested In all the industries. Al
the officials are engaged in mercantile
pursuits, and they deem 1t to their in.
terest to keep prices high. The town
has an excellent Chamber of Com.
lnerce but the hands of Secretary are
tied and his usefulness is nil on ac.
count of the conditions mentioned. We
are afraid it will be hard to secure Q
competent secretary to come to the
town; If they get one, he will soor
become disheartened and will accep
the first good position offered to him
The Mayor of Maysville has the op
portunity Of his life to endear himsel
to the heart of his people by endeavor
ing to get cheap coal for his people
He will be able to do it. The Mayor o
Evansville did it. Coal is selling fol
lie bushel in that town, and tn,
price was secured by the Mayor. Thi
coal came to Evansville in barges tina
passed in front of Maysville. 1t il
only short haul from the mines t,
Maysville, and coal should be pur
chased much cheaper than it can be a
b Evansville, Cincinnati andSther point
on account Of the lower freight rate
So far as we are concerned we can
not locate In Maysville on account o
the high cost of coal especially
Through this Maysville will lose
y large factory which employs over IL
hands. We at first wondered why s
many excellent factory sites were nc
taken up We know now.
BURGEN & BROTHERS.
The following is copy of the lei
ter sent to Mr.. Duley by Mr. Thoma
z. Boone, secretary of the Chamber c
Commerce.
January 18th, 1917.
Editor Hiram Duley,
Flemingsburg, Ky.
. My Dear Sir:
We are In receipt of a copy of til
same letter that you received, signe
Burgen & Brothers, taking a rap {
/, Maysville conditions.
We do not place any confidence |
this letter, but will say, that If til
parties who wrote it will establis
themselves as responsible people, "
will take great pleasure in taking
fall' out Of every complaint they ha,
uttered in their letter.
, Until such responsibility Is esta1
lished no further consideration will |
!, given the matter.
With best wishes for the Fleming