The diamond drill., 1918-03-23
CHANGE POLICY
IN Mine SERVICE
RAILROADS WILL CHARGE $500
3. PER HOUR FOR sPOTTING
CHARGE FOR TRACK CHANGES
Loading With Steam Shovel Will
be Made Much More Expensive
in the Future

Notice was served upon the local
mining companies during the week
that a "spotting charge" OF 800 per
hour will be charged all mines here
after which require the services OF an
engine 10 serve their steam shoyels.
The notice came as thunderbolt
from clear sky to the local manage
ments, although it has been known
for long time that the railroads were
figuring on imposing additional
charges for service at the mines.
II cannot be said that the spotting
charge is due to government manage
ment OF the railroads because the
charge was considered before the
government took over the roads. 1T
Is doubtful, however, II the charge
would have been applied just now
had the government control OF the
roads not presented an opportunity
TO pass the buck
Track Change Charge Also.
II Is stated on good authority that
the mines will be charged for the
services of the section men hereaf-
ter when they are called upon to shift
steam shovel tracks. The railroads
have not served notice OF this depar-
ture yet, but II is understood that
the news will be broken when the
time comes.
The railroad managers claim that
both the spotting service and the
track change service has been abused
by some OF the companies who have
asked for unreasonable concessions
in both OF these lines, and that the
charge Is made to put stop TO this
unreasonable demand
1t Is generally conceded however,
that the reason is more to get the
money than to stop any unreasonable
practices. The roads have had t0
keep a lot of engines in the mining
section to serve shoyels. The uncer-
talnty with which shovels are operat-
ed makes a lot OF dead time and much
expense. There Is scarcity OF en-
gines just now and it is figured that
this charge will reduce the number
in the spotting services and make
them available for other work
VIII Prepare For II.
1t is very doubtful if the mining
companies will pay much for spot
ting charges as engines can be rig
ged up at almost every property
whereby cars can be shifted without
the use OF locomotives. Some OF the
mining companies are right now figur-
ing out schemes for moving the cars
so that the service OF a spotting en-
gine can be dispensed with.
The drawback TO the use OF such
contrivances is the fact that shovel
tracks, as a general rule, do not con
tain tail room enough for any lengthy
loading. Some Of the mining com
panies are considering the purchase
OF spotting looomoties and IL is
quite probable that all logging loco
motives not in use during the sum
mer will be picked up for service.
The new regulations put into effeei
In ore traffic during the past few years
have increased the handling charge
very materially, The first innovation
was the imposition OF storage charges
for dock service. This charge was
fought before the Interstate commerce
commission, but was sustained
Next came the demand that in th,
TSipment OF new properties or new
s.. fits OF old properties. the mining
company should pay for all the sid.
ing work The railroad company will
ptt In a track TO the line, but from
that point all tracks must be paid foI
by the mining company
The spotting charge lays a particu.
iarly heavy toll upon the mine oper
ators as spotting engines are neces
sIty for stockpile loading
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