Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1897 — CONFISCATE THE COAL. [ARTICLE]

CONFISCATE THE COAL.

Railroads Head Off a Famine by Gobbling Up All in Transit. Railroad companies Thursday issued orders to confiscate all coal being curried over their respective lines. It w r as issued because of the coal miners’ strike and impending coal famine. The roads on which the coal has been stopped are the heaviest carriers in the West, and include nearly all lines running out of Chicago. The number of estimated cars confiscated and the roads responsible for the seizure are as follows: Cars. Illinois Central 2,000 Wabash 2,500 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. 1,200 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe... 1,800 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.. 1,000 Chicago and Alton 2,700 Indiana, Illinois and lowa 1,500 Rock Islandl,3oo Monon 1,000 Totalls,ooo The seizure is made because of a recent Supreme Cqurt opinion which says that in case of strikes, the railroad companies have the right to confiscate any coal on its property, regardless of the consignee. This decision was reached on the ground that the railroad companies were the regular transmitters of the United States mail, and that the comfort and convenience of individual travelers should be given preference over manufacturing an<l industrial concerns. The railroad companies claim they are exercising their just rights in the confiscation, as they maintain their contracts with the coal concerns call for so many thousand tons a year and when strikes prevail they are simply taking their balance due in the contract instead of waiting until the b'ns were near empty as heretofore. In addition to the confiscating order the price of common soft coal jumped 40 cents a ton, while the soft screenings were rated at just double their customary value. Greek volunteers who left America for Athens to offer their services in the army of their fatherland, are returning to New York. They are greatly disappointed in arriving too late, not even being enrolled in the forces. The Sultan of Turkey is again in a yielding mood, it is said, and the European ambassadors seem to think that peace will follow according to their instructions and desires.