Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-20

The Coal Trade SwindIes.
That the owners and managers of coal mines
in Pennsylvania, are conscious of aiming to
swindle the public, is made clea by study of
their conduct They conspire continually to
limit the supply of coal sent to market, in order
10 keep up prices; and they scheme to maintain
prices for the product ofthe easiest and least ex-
pensive mines which will make II very profitable
to work the most difficult and expensive. Those
who understand the business, estimate that
anthracite coal from the mines in SchuylkiIl
and some Of the other counties, can be put in
the cars, at the mines, for one dollar and twen-
ty cents ton, and pay the miners satisfactory
wages. In this statement, the mining labor is
estimated at thirty cents ton; the other items
include "opening gangways," hauling, and the
cost of materials used in mining, but they do
not include "rents or royalties" and '1ateral
tolls" Much is said of the "extavagant de-
mands" of the working miners, and Of their
"strikes;" but the money paid these men never
constitutes more than very small item OF the
price actually charged for coal in the market,
by those who manage the business. The really
extravagant and outrageous demands are made
more quietly and successfully by those who own
or Operate" the mines.
The extravagant charges for 'rents or royal
ties" are seldom mentioned; but they are never
reduced. In Europe, the charge for royalty"
varies from five to twelve cents ton, according
to the greater or less difficulty of the mine. 1t
is never higher than twelve cents ton; and it
should be higher here, for it does not represent
labor; but, in Pennsylvania, the charge for
trent or royalty varies from thirty to fifty
cents ton, and the lowest charge we have ever
heard mentioned for the most difficult mines is
twenty-five cents a ton. More is charged for
''royalty" alone than is paid for mining labor.
1t should be noticed, also, that the mining com
panies control the lines of transportation lead
Ing to the mines, and do much to regulate the
price of coal at the points 10 which i is brought
for shipment, by their management of the
charges for transportation from the Mines
Those who have watched this matter have no.
ticed that these charges are accustomed to vary
in the most unaccountable way; unaccountable
to those who do not study the aims and tricks of
the operators, who would not have the public
see or bear of anything but the Combinations"
and "strikes" Of the working miners. 1t is be-
lieved, and net without reason, that these com
binations and strikes are oftener encouraged and
directed by the specializing operators than by
the working men. There would be coal enough
in the market at reasonable prices, if those in.
terested in the coal trade would deal honorably
and be less intent on making extravagant
profits.
Much has been said of the recent Strike in
the coal regions, and of the purpose of the min
ing companies TO crush the combination OF
strikers. This serves to confine attention to the
working miners, and hide other "ways that arc
dark; but what are we 10 think OF the follow.
ing passage in a report published in a Philadel-
phia papcr:-"Ihe iron manufacturers have
acquesced in the virtual embargo on coal trans
portatiOn implied in the doubling of tolls on
that article over the Reading railroad, the pur-
pose Of which is understood to be the prevention
of further attempts at a resumption of mining,
until q radical change is effected lie the system,
This embargo" which is nowise due to the
working men, discloses the real aim of the oper.
ating companies. They intend that coal shall
become scarce in the market. Doubling the
tolls" on the Reading railroad is not a new dc.
WIG AuOoS WIZ nave NdLGu6u the coal COM
panies, know precisely what it means. These
companies can steal;hily procure strikes; and
they can, at will, lay emb irgoes on the trans
portaton of coal. This is their method of
swlndling the public; their method of making
the coal business defiant monopoly, exceeding
ly profitable to themselves, and very oppressive
to those who use coal. In this case, probably
the iron manufacturers are to have what coal
they want without being much subjected TO the
swindle. Therefore, being Pennsylvanians, they
win not cry out against the monopoly.
The following, from the Scranton Republican
of Saturday, shows the extent of this relentless
combination to maintain the coal trade as a
monopoly:
ave understand that the Lehigh Valley aud
the Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad compa-
mics yesterday notified the coal operators who
have been shipping over their roads, that he e.
after, until further notice, the tolls from Wilkes
barre TO Port johnson (Elizabethport) will be
$40 per ton. Before the suspension they were
S2,75. New York and Philadelphia had better
look elsewhere for coal. This tariff effcctualy
prevents all operators who have commenced
mining flom shipping their coal. II affects not
only the miners, but 100 900 other people living
in Luzerne county alone, and all elsewhere de.
pendent upon the coal interest of this region.
~ VIZ" VI thls conDlnatloD OF tue great carry
Ing companies, petitions are beng extensively
circulated in Plttston, Wilkesbarre and through.
out the Wyoming Valley, asking the legislature
To urtail the franchises of the coal-carryiug
companies. These papers are being very gen
orally signed by all classes, and stringent act
for relief from such aggrtssiag rolls is being pre-
pared for early introduction into the legisla-
ture.'
There ought TO be some effective way of max.
ing these inscriptions operators hear reason.
The whole tra.e,-every part of the business
between the mines and consumers,-is affected
by the Influence of these men Itis not surpris-
Inc that they ordinarily endeavor to divert at
tention from their own proceedings, by talking
loudly of strikes and combinations. No strike
OF the workmen can do so much to affect the
coal trade as is done by doubling tolls on the
Reading railroad;" nor can any demand the
workmen are likely to make, be more injurious
70 those who buy coal than the extravaganza
charges for royalties" of which little or moth
iuGis said One aim of government should be
TO protect the people against unserupulous mo.
nopolies; and here is a case where its aid is
needed We will not undertake TO say what
should be done; but, plainly, the government of
PENNSYLVANIA should do something 10 check this
systematic swindliug, and so regulate the bust
ness OF mining and transporting coal as to make
IT just and honorable. 1t should not be posi-
BILE for those who control the mining companies
to do what they are now doing constantly as if
they had sovereign right to do it without crit
icism or interference of any kind.
Mlstresses and Servants.
The question is often asked why New England
girls, who have to support themselves, do not
seek employment as domestics, rather than try
to get living by sewing or other kinds of
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