New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-17
o,,R COR TROUBLES.


impeIed to say that we do not exactly agree
with the writer. He lays the blame entirety
on the working miners. which Is not according
to the facts as we understand them. Inc
miners being human, like to be well pald 1or
their labor; but their bosses" and the trans
portation companies Gncluding Railroad ana
Canal companies) are just like them Had w.
A. ] given table of the freight on Coal
charged by these companies at dlfferent oates
throughout the last two years, he wouiu nave
done much TO elucidate this matter; but his
modesty is equal to his merit. lie may nho
some hints on the subject in the partial state
ments of freight given in our special CORE
snondence from the coal region on another
page.
AZ 70 the question of "Basis" so called, we
are in accord with the working miners we re-
Gently paid $40 for seven tuns OF Coal thae
sbould not have cost more than S49 ana III
was n comfort to reflect that the men VINO IN
Grim. damp darkness dug this Coal out OF the
bowels of some Pennsylvania mountain pock-
eted their share of the cash. We ardently
hone that the "the basis" may be maintained,
so that, whenever we have to pay % or %
per tun more for Coal than it is worth, the
miners shall receive their share OF the Spots:
We do MT believe them bit more greedy anu
hardly shade less intelligent than the NINE
owners or the transportation companies; So IL
we are to be skinned at ALL we insist on
fair division of the hide among those inter
ested If they skin the public, let them refrain
from skinning each other.
II ia too late now to hope for much redne-
tion of price this season; so we urge all 10
buy and use Coal sparingly. Let villagers ana
| farmers return to their wood stoves ana hre-
places: let those who must have Coal buy lIghty
and hold off as long as possible; for the present
nrices cannot endure unless by the connlVance
of consumers. We heartily wish the Peat
Fuel operators of two or three years since had
shown little more persistency or pluck. There
| il harvest awaiting them now, but they are
not ready to garner it, Let them hurry up.
| And now let lus hear our Pennsylvania cor
| respondent He says:
The intelligent American public, having found out that
Coal ia high aud likely to be higher. is fast flashing
Itself into aud ready 10 charge on the nrst req
rag which shall nuter before its eyes Most persons
eonfound all parties connected with Coal III one CHASE
and abuse them all as monOpolists and extortoners
Even those VINO try discriminate fail, for want OF
knowledge and are just likely to blame the innocent
"a the guilty Perhaps statement OF facts familiar TO
all in the Coal trade but not generally known outside
may be Of use In the coming fight
In general it may be said the price Of Coal is fixed by
the consumer by the producer That Is Coal sells at
what purchasers willing to give for IT, not at what II
costs nor at what combination OF producers may agree
20 take Indeed combination of producers to raise the
price Of Coal directly is impossible, though they might do
| so ndireetiy as will be shown hereafter.
The high price OF Coal then is generally caused by
deficiency, actual apprehended, in the supply The
causes of such deficiency are worthy OF examination.
The deficiency may arise, l. From insufficient mining
capacity; O. From insufficient means Of transportation;
| I From artificial restrictions production.
IN regard the first cause, 1t may be laid down as an
axiom that the high price Of Coal has never arisen from
insufficient mining capacity. Rapidly as the consump-
ton about ten per cent per annum the open
ing mines has hitherto more than kept pace with
that increase. In TRUTH the misfortune or the Anra
cite trade been too great capacity, an inOrdnae
rnpdiy OF growth far beyond the requirements OF the
market Hence has proceeded the great instability IN
the business and the rapid fluctuations IN prices from
point considerably below the cost OF production 10 one
almost above the means OF consumers Such a state OF
things L. OF course. highly undesirable The best posi-
Be condition Of branch OF business IS steady demand
and supply with fair In the Coal trade especially
Is this the case for while low prices runous to all
concerned high prices hardly less injurious. because
| they stimulate production induce more mines 10 be
| opened and eventually a reaction.
The second OF high prices-insuiceut means OF
transporaton-was operative in and 1864 when the
railroads OF the country crippled by the withdrawal
Of their power aud rolling stock for purposes
The high prices OF Coal In those years will long be re
membered. Yet, during that whole time, the mining
capacity % the Coal region was ample TO supply the
market The stimulus OF high prices, however, produced
| the usual effect. New mines opened everywhere
the usual consequence followed the carry
ing companies got into full operation again. be
reference 10 the Low prices aud depressed OF
| the trade In 1866 1867, and part OF 1868
The history ofthe Anthracite trade reeurren series
Of this kndoyer production, low prices reduced wages
strikes reduced production, high prices, Sc And this
brings us 10 the third OF deficiency the supply
artificial restrictions production. II is obvious that
the supply could he made steady and exactly proper
toned 10 the demand II would be advantageous
sumers as well as producers. Now various attempts
have been made 10 bring this about. Combinations OF
the Operator" who the mining capitalists. have
been naugurated Tor the purpose Of restricting produo
ton pro rata but these have always failed, they
always will fail when human seshness is opposed only
| by the tie OF n sense OF honor
Then the transportation companies have ossayed to
agree among themselves to limit pro rata, the
| transported so as not TO gut the market This would
virtually have restricted production, for Coal is only
mined fast rs IL is taken away; but the companies
found themselves unable agree upon fair distribution
| OF the trade.
| Lastly, the "miners"-tho mining laborers-haye
formed a trades union called the W0rkngmens Benevo
lent Association, which has taken the matter hand
| and which organized the strike OF May and juno last
ayowedy for the purpose Of preventing apprehended
glut in the Coal market which would necessarily be FOL
lowed by low prices, and that by reduction in wages
IL was estimated that suspension OF about SIX weeks
would remove from market the surplus and that steady
work after that for the remainder Of the year would
about supply the demand. There is to suppose
that this calculation correct; and, matters had
proceeded according TO their first intention, the result
would doubtless have been fair market a fair prices