The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-28

same time the natural growth of the demand
has been checked by violent fluctuations in
the price. The troubles of the last two or
three years are but the inevitable results of
these forcing processes and abnormal condi-
tions. The only remedies are the temporary
extinction of those mining concerns which
are not favorably situated for production,
and the reduction of the miners compensa-
tion at least to the natural level of wages
in other branches of industry. If the coali-
tion of coal camponies, 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: Instead of permitting oompeti-
tion to work out this problem, they propose
to abolish competition-the competition alike
of producer with producer, of laborer with
laborer, and of carrying company with carry
ing 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
communication with its shipping points.
Distance has been compensated for by reduc-
ing the lateral tolls of the most remote
mines. Galleries favorably situated are
made to pay the extra expense of collecting
the ccal of those unfavorably situated To
secure the New York and New England
markets drawback has been allowed on
coal shipped from Richmond to Eastern
ports The consumer in Philadelphia has
been forced to pay two-thirds more freight
for transporting coal over ninety-three miles
of the main stem than the consumer in
New York. The Pennsylvania manufacturer
has been deprived of much of the advan-
tage which he ought to derive from proxi-
nifty 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 its operations q capital stock of
$50, ,401, 6e0'2S has been created, and
funded debt of $13, S41, ,S77.22 accumulated
The object of the managers of the Reading
Railroad in entering into the coalition is
simply to accomplish the otherwise impos-
sible task of paying the interest on it's mort
gages and ten per cent. dividends on its
stock, and avoiding the penalties of that reck-
less expansion which has distinguished its
management, in common with that of its
competitors.
The policy contemplated by this immense
combination of railroad and mining capital is
to maintain coal at a steady and remunerative
price all the year round, by limiting the guam
that the supply is getting ahead of the de-
mand, all the companies are to reduce their
tonnage by certain percentage, to be agreed
on at council of the representatives of the
various corporations. A colliery which has O
capacity of 100 carloads day will have, say,
only 80 cars left at its disposal. If 500, 900
tons are transported to market each week,
the monopoly-fer such it is avowed and in
tended to be = will cut down the
10 70 ,ofa
extent may be necessary to keep up
the price, SO as to afford reasonable
profit" to all concerned. 1t may be asked,
Will not this monopoly be an improvement
on the state of things which has existed for
the last three years? Is not a combination
of capitalists preferable to combination of
labor unions? Perhaps it is, but the atten-
tive reader of the resolutions promulgated on
Thursday by the railroad men and coal ope-
rators will see that they leave the Miners
Union unshorn of a single power or preten-
sion. Should the miners 60 to work on the
terms proposed, in six months the 10000
members of the Miners and Laborers' Bene-
VIOLENT Association will be four times as
powerful and four times as closely united as
they are to-day. That organization will have
accumulated force enough to inaugurate a
four months suspension. The policy of
limiting the supply and keeping up the price,
any confidence which may be entertained
in the ability of the allied companies to
''put an end TO strikes" would proba-
bly, cause the public to be less
prepared for coal famine than they were
last December. 1t is an ominous circum-
stance that the leaders and members of the
Miners Union, almost to man, look upon
those who have taken part in these meetings
in New York and Philadelphia as their NOR
tai enemies. They credit them with the de.
sign of destroying their association. The
miners, if they accept the terms offered them
now, will do so because they are too poor to
carry their resistance any further. But the
spirit of resistance will only be intensified by
their forced submission, while common sense
will enable them to appreciate the compli
m snt which has been paid to their power
Whatever else may flow from the deliberations
of the capitalists, at their meetings here ant
in Philadelphia, the restoration of right rela
tions between laborer and employer, or be
| tween producer and consumer, is net to bt
| expected.