The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-14
a PROSPECT FOB CHEAP COAL AGA1H.


After all, there is great deal Of human ma
ture in coal-dealers. They like high prices for
their property as well as the rest of us, and
are not moro particular than the rest of us
about the means of getting them They have
been telling their customers all summer that
they are not responsible for the high prices of
coal, but that the demand has increased, the
canals have broken, the workmen have struck,
&C.; and we have received several lectures
from men in the trade for venturing doubt
whether present prices were legitimate, or
could be sustained. We at last got to think
that perhaps coal had been cornered, and that
those who wanted warm weather this winter,
must pay for it or go where it can he had with
out the use of coal But alas,
The best laid plans of mice and men
Gang aft aglee"
The Pottsville Miners Journal the central
organ of the mining interest, in it's edition of
tho I'd instant has betrayed some of the secrets
OF the trade, which win be read with surprise
but with profit by those especially of our read
ers VINO have notyet laid IN their winter 8 fuel
That journal says:
"The amount sent this week is rs 9s5 10
tons-50 47S.Il by railroad, and 25 5O7. OS by
canal. The railroad has fallen off 1917 O9
tons from last week, and the canal has increased
447.17. The total increase so far this year,
over last, is 394, 566I7 tons.
The erpedlency of susPending shipments for
at least one 1eek during the present month is
noD IN agitation among our operators and the
unanimity that prevails among them in favor of
that policy as far as we have been able to learn,
proves how easily it could be accomplished.
We understand that the object Of this pro-
posed movement, 1rhich mag be considered reli-
ably certain, IS to sustain the trade abroa4-those
tcAo haze laid up AeqOy stocks of coal at high
prices and hagA freights ), and ct the same time
20 check certain efforts being made, nearer
home, to reduce prices 10 a lower figure for the
remainder of the season, which would result in
serious disasters to the entire trade"
Does not this statement show that we were
not mistaken when we said there was great
deal OF human nature in coal dealers! They
Ike high prices; they now get high prices !;
they wish to keep getting high prices, but they
cannot unless they sustain the trade abroad D
So they propose to stop shipping for week
Whyt Because that viii reduce the stock in
the hands of the trade abroad, and tend to dis
courage those who are holding back their win
ter purchases for lower prices.-N. Y En- Post
There is great haste in this country to
grow rich. People are worse than ever, since
the gold world of California has been pouring
out Its treasures It is difficult to find fair
dealing in any trade or business. The middle
men, those who do the business OF exchange
between producers and consumers disguised
with moderate profits, do not hesitate to swell
them by extortion. Of course tBere are ex-
ceptions, but the tendency of the whole class
is to reckless and ruthless speculation.
We are glad that the Post hiss made the
exposure of one piece Of rascalit5. Let the