New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-27

The Derfectly good understanding which now
subsists between the various corporations,
companies and individuals whose capital is in
vested in mining anthracite coal and bringing
il To market is a phenomenon which ought to
excite the most jealous attention on the part
of the public. II may as well be known now
IA At any other time that the object of those
who have entered into this extraordinary
alliance is to conduct The coal trade hereafter
as II monopoly, result which will be attained
should the present cordial understanding con-
tinue. The capitalists were forced TO unite by
their dread of the Miners Union, and it is
probable that the same power will keep them
together There Ii not one OF the great trans
porting companies which has not lost within
the last two years from 81 100000 to S3,OOO,OOO
Ivy the action of the. labor unions. The fear
of cnc0lmtering like experiences in future
must have strong tendency to strengthen the
capitalists league.
The curse of the anthracite coal business has
been that for years everybody engaged IN 1T
has worked in direct defiance of the natural
laws Of trade Over production has been slim
ulatcd by transporting companies, like the
Reading, for the purpose of increasing tun-
mage; and by mining companies like the Del
aware and Hudson Canal, and Delaware Lack
awanna, and Western Company, for the puT-
pose of crushing out their weaker COMPETE
tors. All the natural limitations to the growth
of the trade have been held in allegiance.
Wages have been regulated by treaty be-
tween the leaders of coal associations and
labor unions and have, consequently, ruled
high. Steerage tickets and drafts have been
sent over to Europe in abundance, and
fresh miners have been imported by the thou
sand The capacity to produce coal has been
brought from 30 to 80 per cent above the ut
most quantity that the market will bear, and
at the same time the natural growth of the
demand has been checked by violent tluc-
tualiOns in the price. The troubles of the last
two or three years are but the inevitable
results of these forcing processes and abnormal
conditions. The only remedies are the tenn
pOrary extinction of those mining concerns
which are not favorably situated for prOduc-
ton, and the reduction Of the miners compen
sation at least to the natural level of wages
in other branches of industry. If the coalition
of coal companies, coal operators, and railroad
companies proposed to accomplish either of
these salutary reforms, the public might look
upon their consultations with some favor. We
are enabled TO state on high authority that
their intentions are directly the reverse. In
stead of permitting competition 10 work out
this problem, they propose to abolish COMPETE
tion-the competition alike of producer with
producer of labOrer with laborer, and of car
ryiug company with carrying company.
Let us examine the policy of the Reading
Railroad, which is at once the most powerful,
intelligent, and enterprising of all the coal
carrying corporations. This Company, by its
lateral railroads, has brought all the coal lands,
far and near, within its reach into commun-
cation with its shipping points Distance has
been compensated for 10y reducing the lateral
tolls of the more remote mines. Galleries
fayorably situated are made to pay the extra
expense of collecting the coal of those unfavor-
ably situated To secure the New-York and
New England markets drawback has
been allowed on coal shipped from Rich
mOnd TO Eastern ports. The consumer in Phil
adelphia has been forced TO pay hro-thirds
more freight for transporting coal over the 80
miles of the main stem than the consumer in
New-York. The Pennsylvania manufacturer
has been deprived of much OF the adyan-
tage which he ought to derive from prOS-
unity to the mines, and the development
of every branch of industry there has
been correspondingly checked. To carry
out this enormous and unhealthy extension of
It's Opcrations'a capital stock of S3O,4O1 900 %
has been created, and funded debt of
Sl3sll,s;1 % accumulated The object of the
managers Of the Reading Railroad in entering
into the coalition is simply to accomplish the
otherwise impossible task Of paying the in