The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-18
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
SOME COAL cAR HIsToRY

FAlhMONT, Jan. 17.-tEditor The I
west Virgtnianl lin view OF the fact /
tnat considerable publicity has been |
given the annual meeting OF the I
central West Virginia Coal Opera. |
tors Association held in Fairmont, |
W. va, on the 9th inst. in which the |
statement was given the public that |
the operators in the Fairmont reg. |
Ion are well pleased with the distrl. |
pulon OF cars that has been obtain. |
ed for the past several weeks" this |
association, in justice to the mem. |
bership feels called upon to answer
THIS statement with the publication |
OF the actual facts as viewed from the |
standpoint OF the coal operator.
The b. & o. have in effect a set
OF rules governing the distribution OF
coal cars on the Baltimore and Ohio |
system. When these rules are lived
up to Literally by the officials OF the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad this as.
ISOLATION will always cooperate with |
the railroad to the fullest extent. !
When there Is a technical evasion OF |
these rules, as will be explained in
this article, then we believe the pub.
lie should know all the facts in the
case
For the information of those who
are unacquainted with the volume OF
coal business handled by the Balti.
more and Ohio railroad the writer
OF this article makes the statement
there are eight coal shipping regions
located on their line. Every mine in
these eight regions is rated at so
many tons per day, this rating being
based upon calendar month showing
highest average daily shipments dur.
ing twelve consecutive months end.
ing with the last month for which
shipment figures are available. AID.
Justments Of these ratings are made by
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to fit
actual conditions as they exist from
day to day and for the period com.
mencing August 18th, 1916, and ending
December Both, 1916, the total adjusted
ratings Of mines on the Baltimore and
Ohio system amounted to 15,262,O2O
tons for which they furnished cars
applicable to percentage amounting to
1 s,S12,175 tons, or .6429 per cent of the
adjusted rating. The Monongah divis,
lon OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
comprising the membership of this as.
ISOLATION, shipped during this period
40 per cent. Of the total coal loaded on
the entire Baltimore and Ohio sys.
TEN in cars APPLICABLE to percentage
The Fairmont region has also recely.
ed, in addition to the figures given in
the foregoing, large number of pri.
vately, owned cars and foreign coal
cars sent here for fuel for these for
eign railroads which, 1t is estimated,
will bring the Monongah division total
up to So or 60 per cent. of the total
coal loaded on the entire Baltimore
! and Ohio system. This will give YOU
an idea OF the relative Importance
of the Monongah division coal shipping
region on the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad.
No argument is necessary to sub.
stanttate the fact that each mine is
entitled to the same percentage of
his adjusted rating as his neighbor re.
ceiVes and following out this line of
reasoning on broader scale each
region or district is entitled to the
same percentage Of its total ADJUST
ed rating as all other districts on the
Baltimore and Ohio system received,
The members Of this association are
a unit in declaring their belief that it
is impossible to give each district their
Just proportion OF care each period
without subsequent adjustment OF
averages and shortages.
To illustrate; at the close of bust.
ness September 30th, 1916, the Fair
mont region was short 1861 5O.ton
cars of their proportion of the cars
| available. During the subsequent per.
iod which ended October 18th, our total
rating amounted to 6,17S 50-ton cars
and We received during this period
to apply on this adjusted rating a to.
al Of 4,644,S 50-ton cars. According
TO the records of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad We should have receiv.
ed 4,S12.6 50-ton cars in order to
bring US up to GU just proportion of
the cars available on the entire sys.
TEN. This left US short 1918 50:ton
cars which should have ben made up