N&W in 1912--Coal rates

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Wed., March 20, 1912

POCAHONTAS AND THACKER FIELDS SUFFER
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Norfolk and Western Only Road Allowed to Advance Coal Freight Rate
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CHARGES ARE HELD TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE
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Increases Proposed by the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Baltimore and Ohio and the Kanawha and Michigan Were Disapproved
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COMMISSION'S OPINION SHOWS THE COST OF MOVING COAL
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    Washington, March 19.-Advances of transportation rates on coal from the Virginia and West Virginia fields to the great lakes ports, made by the Chesapeake and Ohio, Baltimore and Ohio and Kanawha and Michigan railways were disapproved by the interstate commerce commission here today. In the same opinion advances made by Norfolk and Western on some traffic were approved.
    The commission upheld the proposed advance from Thacker districts from ninety-seven cents to $1.06 1-2 a ton and from Pocahontas district from $1.12 to $1.21 1-4 a ton made by the Norfolk and Western railroad on the ground that they did not impose an unjust or unreasonable charge for transportation service rendered.
    The commission ordered the Baltimore and Ohio, Chesapeake and Ohio and Kanawha and Michigan railroads, however, to maintain their present rates from Fairmont, Kanawha and New River districts which are respectively ninety-six and three-quarters cents, ninety-seven cents and $1.12 a ton.     The proposed advances to $1.06 1-2 and $1.21 1-4 a ton.were held not to be justified.* The commission's opinion shows that the cost of moving coal from the fields concerned, including all operating and maintenance expenses, is about two mills a ton a mile. It holds that the rate of three mills will cover the interest and dividend charges in addition to the operating costs.
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*These are the approved rates from the Thacker and Pocahontas fields, respectively, so it is not clear how these two rates, said to be not justified, pertain to the three railroads whose requests were turned down.

Gordon Hamilton
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