The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-06
TINE PENNSYLVANIA COAL TRADE.
Alarm Of the Monopoiists.

IRON the Philadelphia Ledger, August 81
The anthracite coal trade Is attracting unusual
attention all along the Atlantic seaboard, as much
from the evidences recently shown that the trade IL
wholly in The control Of combinations OF producers
fact that prices are now felt by Consumers 70 be an
necessarily and unbearably high. The complaint Is
probably Oudest from domestic consumers, because
they are the most numerous; but the manufacturers
who buy IN large bulk and consume Largely, though
q smaller number, are fully aroused and can
ceptraie their very powerful influence to enect re-
dress OF their grievance Tney are therefore attract
ing most attention. The first step, from present in
locations, viii be an EFFORT to take the national tax
on Of foreign coal. The anthracite coal operators
say this viii amount to nothing. for the reason that
there 10 no coal imported. The advocates OF an open
market and OF cheap fuel meet this with the reply
then there will be no necessity on the part or the
domestic coal producer TO oppose repeal OF the taX.
But II is very manifest there Will he opposition 10
taking OF the tax, with what result shall pro-
baby learn by the proceedings or the next Con-
gress. Certain II IL, the late suspension OF coal p'o-
ductlop to advance prices has done much 70 weaken
the plea on which the tax has heretofore been MAIN
tanned. The coal producers know very well thai the
reason that foreign coal Is not Imported ~ that the
high taxes have 80 enectuay smut the product
OF The Nova Scotia mines out from thus market
that no facilities Tor producing and transporting
coal cheapiy has ever been made. fhe duty
olce removed and the market fairly open TO
the foreign product the necessary preparations for
the Introduction OF the coaI INTO tne New England
coal with them. The trade has Drought TINS condi-
ZION OF affairs on itselI and unless t can show 10
Congress and the country tha the history OF the past
Jew months viii not be repeated the only remedy or
that winch appears to be remedy-the marker of
the world IN which 10 buy fuei cheap II Is pos
slble to produce twill be insisted upon. The total
product OF coat last week. reported by all the
Tying companies, was 357,6s3 TONS The total pro-
duct for the year - 6,s363q7 tons, against $50
tons to corresponding time Ia iSos-a decrease OF
20 453 tons. This account up to Thursday OF lat
week. Ky toe present date this decrease has
no doubt been overcome and the supply ~
now probably more than 100000 tons ahead
OF last year to the same tIme ON
Monday the tolls on coal were advanced fifty cents
per ton and freIghts from Richmond MY cents per
ton. The advance IN coal does not apply 10 eoa On
tue line OF the road or Tor consumption In ami
about this city. Some retailers however, contem-
plate an advance In prices, the effect of when, or
the last two or three days, has been to very much
depress and unsettle the market. The trade has
been brought almost TO standstlll. Consumers
halt in their purchases; shippers, because of the
vance In tolls aud lfeights aud city consumers
cause OF the high prices demanded. Eight and "a
half 10 ten dollars per gross ton are now the asking
prices THIS Is excessive. As the heavy production
OF coal VIII make pling necessary If purchasers
hold aloof from the market, coming down from
present pretensons may soon follow, when the trade
will PROBABLY assume Its wonted activity.