Show ANNUALLY ASKED OF UT AHNS BY BV RAilROADS i By E E. J. J David By the application of the railroads for an advance In the freight rate on coal of 15 cents a ton a demand Is made upon the people of Utah to pay more than a year While the freight rates on coal here are arc about the highest ii in the country the railroads still consider that this state Is good picking The railroads have not yet seemed to realize that there Is a public utilities commission in this state although one might have thought they would have known to the the contrary in view of ot the manner In which the transportation companies went down to defeat In the 15 per cent Increase fight So the railroads not ot satisfied with the great revenue they are at present enjoying seek more of ot the publics public's money The railroads have taken al altogether altogether altogether al- al together too much money out of ot Utah and have not provided a a. fair return They should be made to disgorge and it is hoped that the put public utilities commission on July 31 will so order The application of ot the railroads for foran foran foran an increase In the freight rate on coal is absolutely ridiculous If there Is one commodity on which there should be beno beno beno no increase In freight rate in Utah that commodity Is coal JUDGMENT LACKING The representatives of the the railroads should have exercised better sense in submitting such an application at this time They should remember that the public utilities commission in the me recent re recent recent re- re cent application for a general 15 per percent percent percent cent Increase in rates particularly Interrogated in interrogated interrogated In- In them as to freight charges on coal To the tho observer it then seemed that If an increase were granted It would not apply to coal under under under un un- un- un der any circumstances There can be bo no question sUon but that the people of this state cannot afford Nto to to pay more for their coal They are already overburdened Since Bince the city has entered the fight in a protest against the application of the railroads It is to be hoped that all Interests will pull in the same boat There Is a need for harmony to provide provide provide pro pro- vide for the greatest organization so that everything will be ready to wage a winning battle The city of Salt Lake by its charter is only empower empowered to look after the Interests of the people people people peo peo- within the city boundaries Other cities and municipalities throughout the state should join in the movement against the railroads and make them realize that has nas at last awakened and Is prepared to de destroy destroy destroy de- de stroy any application havin having as its object the placing of a greater burden upon the community EXPERTS RETAINED Freight rate experts will have to be retained by the city The case is not one that an average lawyer can handle Every preparation should be made to meet all emergencies and the employment employment employment employ employ- ment of qualified experts Is necessary to insure the greatest success Utah mines shipped to Salt Lake last year tons of coal tons being shipped to other points In the state From Prom Wyoming mines there was WIS w s received in Salt Lake tons of coal while Wyoming coal sent Into other parts of Utah amounted to tons The total amount of ot coal as shown by the above figures received by consumers con COY sumers was tons If the railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads were allowed the privilege to charge 15 cents a ton additional on freight for the total tonnage It would mean that judged on last years year's haulage haulage haulage haul haul- age that the people of this state would have to pay for their coal this year In excess of ot 1916 These figures res alone should convince the railroads of the futility or their application Coal Is costing too much now and the railroads cannot hope to gain an Increase in freight rates There must be a decrease in the present freight rates on coal and such reduction reduction reduction tion must be in effect before next winter |