The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-10-26
The Price of Coal.

at that place, which, 1t alleges, Sells, at
the Stroudsburg Depot for 50 per ton Tor
Chestnut coal, aud 50. 70 for Stove. The
papers of the large cities, are also loud in
their complaints, because of prices which
are proportionatc!y higher, even, than at
Stroudsburg. We think both complaints
have justice in them, and that there should
be some means by which an evil SO griev
Gus could be redressed. There Is no
earthly reason for these high prices, save
that which exists in the greed OF Rail
road companies and spectators to swell
their dividends beyond all reason aud 1t
is an outrage that, because of their rapa-
city, consumers of coal all over the cOun
try should he literally robbed, that the
profits on the employment of capital may
grow to most marvellous figure. As
much as any one we desire to see this
section of country prosperous, and our
companies, by which it has been, in a
great measure, built ap, fourishing; but
it is not necessary that the whole outside
country should be swindled to secure this,
nor is it just that our companies Should
be managed solely with view to
their own aggrandizemcut. la the seek
inc of corporate privileges from our lie
gislature the view is always placed upper
most, that the public would be benefited
by their granting and it shonId be an
unalterable rule in their conduct, that the
interests Of that public should not be
swamped in an inordinate scramble to
line the pockets Of the stockholders with
"greenbacks. But the reverse is really
the case and the securing of the "al-
miety dollar" has become far more of an
object, than the accomplishment of any
good TO outsiders The question is moi
one Of general utility, but one, altogether,
Of special profit.
\ reasonable profit on the capital in
vested no one could or would object to
Indeed it had long ago become settled
thing, that it was reasonable to grant
profit to corporations which, in the ordi
nary business transactions, would be con
sidered unreasonable but when that pro-
! fit amounts to an absolute robbery " hen
the principle which secures it is the same
which secures for him who demands
your purse or your life, speedy yield
ing up Of your valuabes, it becomes
crying evil, and one which the law should
be formidable enough to arrest aud re
dress By the action of the Railroad and
Coal Companies, and the SPECTATORS, the
day is well nigh brought upon MS in which
the people will be led to curse the impulse
Il l.
! privileges and powers to aggregated
wealth, which places it above law, and
beyond even the shadow Of punishment
for evils inflicted.
Take the prices Of Goa! at Stroudsburg
as an example of the evil which this ra-
venous greed of companies can and does
infict. Theaverage price, per ton, charg
ed the people Of that locality, by the rail
road company, which has the monopoly
of the market, is $3.50 The cost Of the
coal to the company, on the cars, on the
track and ready for transportation is ST.
S5 per ton. The price charged Cor trans
portation by the company, during the
strike, and when it could get no coal to
run OIL its own account, to Stroudsburg, on
the FIRST lot ran by individuals, was 81 SO
per ton. This was considered, at the time.
by the company, full equivalent for the
service rendered, and makes the cost of coal
at Stroudsburg, allowing that it costs the
company ) cents per ton per mile to run
it. which it does rot by long odds, $3.50.
Deduct this from the average price at
which the company now sells coal there,
according 70 the Jefersonlan, s9,35, and
We have S5,55 as the profit on each ton
of coal sold at that place But this is not
the worst phase OF the company 5 deal
ing's with the Stroudsburgers To ap-
pease an agent, who wished to hold the
lesser monopoly while the company held
the greater, on ali lots run by individuals
subsequent to the first, charge of S3
per ton, or 4-5 cents per ton per mile
was made.
From the figures given above, consum
ers dependent upon the Del Lack. &
Western Railroad Company for supply
of coal, 10 matter what their locality, can
readily calculate for themselves. how much
OF their hard earnings are voraciously.
aud without even a shadow of need
swallowed up in the enormous net profits
20 the stockholders. Consumers of coal
mined in other producing regions, we
presume, are subjected to a like unjust
tax.
The standard Of profits as exhibited
above, is not denied by those who, from
their connection with the company, have
opportunities of Knowing. Indeed it
would hardly be safe for them to deny
1t, in view of the fact that coal rctails
here in Scranton at 81 per ton, delivered
at the door of the purchaser. But they
do attempt to justify it; aud upon what
ground, think you reader? Upon the
ground that everything else is high, aud
coal is no higher in proportion than ev-
cry thing else. But what article enter
ing into mans necessary consumption
produces an equal amount of profit as
coal at $3.50 per ton at Stroudsburg, and
$ll at Elizabethport? Even at 81 per
ton here, delivered, taking all the cost of