1907 - Drop Contention For Coke Oven Basis

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Roanoke Times - November 6, 1907

DROP CONTENTION FOR COKE OVEN BASIS

Operators in Flat-Top Field Now in Accord as to Method of Car Distribution

Yesterday's Bluefield Telegraph said:

   "In Sunday's issue the Daily Telegraph stated that the interstate 
commerce commission would hold a meeting in this city on Wednesday, 
November 6. The commission will take evidence in Bluefield some time 
in December, the date to be announce later, and the cases that will 
be heard relate entirely to freight rates in which discrimination has 
been charged.
   "We learn from an unquestioned source that the Powhatan Coal and 
Coke Company has made no compromise, or offer of compromise, with any 
of the operators or the railway company.
   "It is rumored that the other operators in the field who have been 
contending for a continuance of the coke oven basis, held a meeting 
in Philadelphia on Thursday, October 24th, and decided that they 
would drop their contention for the coke oven basis, and agree to the 
basis which the Powhatan company is contending for. At this meeting 
it is said that Powhatan Company was not represented. It is also 
stated that at the hearing before Commissioner Knapp, at Roanoke, 
Va., last June, the railway officials expressed themselves as of the 
opinion that the coke oven basis of coal car distribution in the 
Pocahontas field has outlived it usefulness and were in favor of the 
leading capacity basis.
   "If it is true that the operators who were opposing the suit 
brought by the Powhatan Company have changed their attitude, it will 
be an easy matter for the commission to render its decision. The 
final hearing will be held at Washington before the interstate 
commerce commission on November 6th, at which time briefs will be 
presented and argued before the commission. It is likely that it will 
take some weeks after the final hearing for the commission to decide 
what the basis shall be, but it is thought that by January 1 a 
decision will have been rendered."


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- Ron Davis, Roger Link