The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-17
Take Matter Up Before
Conference on Un-
employment
MINING CONGRESS-
Many Local Operators At
tending Sessions In
Chicago

Fairmont coal operators gener-
ally have learned with interest
that one of the points made in
President Hardtng's unemployment
conferences in Washington, D. c.
that the representatives of the
coal Industry said they were op-,
posed to assigned cars for carry
ling railroad luel because it tailed
to distribute work at the mines
one OF the causes OF continuous un-
employment. 1t was contended
that the use Of assigned cars for
railroad fuel loading caused ire
Gularity OF employment and recon-
imended that the provisions Of the
Esch-Cummins Act be hereafter
lrigldly enforced.
It was pointed out that assigned
cars wero condemned by the fuel
administration in 1918 and also by
1.-THE presidents coal commission in
1920.
| AT present no assigned cars are
lin use due to the fact that free
supply is on owing to the lack Of
,demands for emptles. The GOAL
4 Atradesmen are taklng time, By stps
/ Itcrelock and placing q iwecg ge Y IN
'ltlme to prevent a return OF the
A ,lpernicious practice
81, -s.-..-- Ohio RatessL =
/ I. AOna. subj ject that ls being dis
z, 5,cussed more now in tho Fairmont
iregion than any other is tho Ohio
rate case. In fact that is one Of
the most lnenacing and important
lsubjects befoe the Northern West
Virginia Coal Operators Assocta-
ition today.
r There is q feeling in the. north
ern part OF the state that the Ohio
coal operators will not succeed in
tgettiug away with their contention
although business men in Ohio
unfortunately think 1t Is a scrap
between coal operators and do not
look upon it as n great trade ques-
ton being inyc.ved. 1Iucn is be-
ling done to correct this impression
prevalent in the minds Of Ohio
manufacturers and others. II a
trade embargo is drawn between
Ohio and West Virginia interests
as apparently is underway there is
no telling where 1t will lead to.
Coal operators In West Virginia,
ranking second most Of the time as
coal producing state, have ex-
pressed as being opposed to using
/ Ohio-made mining machinery and
equipment. This would naturally
only follow the step of Ohio
manufacturers to shut off West
Virginia coal, which will be auto
Imatically done IL the widening OF
the freight rates are permitted by
Ohio business men, without them
filing a protest.
In a chart made by the Northern
West Virginia Coal Operators AS
sociatIon the greatN difference in
the proposed rates in comparison
with those iHtNch Ohio will enjoy
Iif they bscamG effective Is shown.
Five years ago or at q time be-
fore the war when this field was
non-union a large percentage OF
I the Tonnage moved to such empor-
liums as Manistee, Mich. Muske-
gon. Mich, Kalamazoo, Mich, Big
Rapids, Mich, Detroit, Mich, To-
\ ledo. o., Muncie, Ind, and Chi
cago from most OF which points
the Falrmont coal was sent. To-
day the region has been losing this
business more than ever do to the
! excessive freight rates. Most Of
the business to the Northwest has
already been lost and, what little
remains will go TOO II the widening
of difGerentlals are permitted.
The rates to these cities will be
as follows: Manistee, Mich. pres
ent ratio from Southern West Vir-
ginia, 4.12, proposed rate 4.Ss;
from FaIrmont region, S.9S; pro
| posed rate, 4.03; Ohio rate, 3.53;
| proposed rate, $50.
.MusEegon, Mich, present rate
from Southern West Virginia 3.4S,
| proposed rate, 4.10 :, from Fairmont
region, 1884, proposed rate, 3.T5;
Ohio rate, 3.25; proposed rate,
1901. -ft ri flss
Kalamazoo. present rate from
Southern West Virginia, S.63; pro-
posed. S.s9; Fairmont, 3.49; pro-
posed 8.54; Ohio present SOB;
proposed $50.
Big Rapids, Southern West jVIr-
gtnia rate, 4.12; proposed, 1885.
IFairmont, present, 500; proposed
laos; Ohio. present 1853; proposes
Detroit, present rate from
Esouthern West Virginia, 3.Q7: pro-.
lposed. 3.93; Fairmont region,
| 2:87: proposed, 2.98; Ohio, 2.47;
proposed. 2.24.
Toledo, present rate from soutSi
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