The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-20
HINES WILL SET
No FUEL PRICE
FOR RAILROADS
bidding to Give Business to
Various the Coal
fields. Il
lake POOLS DISCUSSED
r. j. Patton Reigns as Sec
retary Of Northern w.
Va. Operators Assn.
TAKE ! POOLS DISCUSSED

No price will be set on railroad fuel
by Walker ID. Hines, director general
ofsraiiroads, according to the inIorlna,
tion brought back today from Wash
ington, d. c., from certain operators
Of tine Fair,nont region.
Certain officials OF the National
Coal Association yesterday afternoon
and evening had conferences with Mr.
Hines and from what can be gathered
his policy will be to have the railroads
receive bids monthly for the railroads
requirements in fuel. The arrange
ment is 80 that business might be ap-
Dortioned about to various mines IN
the region so that they might not re.
main Idle. Tho plan is to receive
bids, which are invited, from all opera.
tors, after which they will be opened
puhlicly and contracts awarded.
Some detailed information on the
subject is expected at later date.
Dock Operators Meet.
Dock opetatols and :eifieiAls OF the
United States Railroad ktion
held q conference recently ID Cleye'
land, o., 10 talk over the pfcspects OF
pooling lake coal SO that switching
may be eliminated.
The dock operators want to elimi.
nate pnbliGi pools while the railroad
administration fayors the pooling sys-
tenn in some form. The business Is
wanted on a larger basis similar to the
plan carried out during the war. The
pool plan proposed will have to meet
the sanction OF the United States rail-
road administration officials. There
appeared to be a deadlock over the
"iree time" feature. The railroad Off
cials want to allow three days as
free time after which a rate OF s.
day per car is to be applied. The
dock operators want five days free
time and 81 per car per day to be ap'
Piled.
A committee will take the matter
up at Washington, D. G., probably Feb
ruary %, with the United States Rail
road administration officials.
The lake season opens about the lat
ter part Of March or April l. The
fields most particularly interested arc
the Hooking, Pittsburgh, Pomeroy and
Yohoghany, although there Is consid
erahle business in the southern West
virginia and Fairmont fields.
Mr.. Patton Resigns.
On. March ], Floyd ]. Patton, the
genial secretary of the Northern West
Virginia Coal Operators Association
viii resign that position, 1t became
known yesterday !. Recently Mr.. Pat
5 ton sent his resignation to G. II. jen
kins, president of the association. Mr
I Patton came here for the purpose Of re
naming only several weeks, but IN
stead served In that capacity for more
than q year. Mr.. Patton has been 9
very efficient official. His successor
has not been chosen as yet.
Mr. Patton feels that the time has
Z come that the association has taken
uD such activities that one engaged N
4 i1bbing coal and operating coal mines
should not hold the post down. This
condition was brought about recently
due to the formation Of a trade bureau
blythe association. Mr.. Patton accept
edsthe position. with the understanding
thkf he might relinquish the duties al
any time he saw fit as he believed thai
81 some time or other the formation
nt q trade bureau would be beneficial
FOE several years Mr.. Patton had been
5 conducting q tobbing business in Graf
\ tnn handling the output OF eight mine.
4 81 addition to operating two for him
self. IN addition he will enlarge the
(Continued on page four.l