New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-06
THE C0AL, MONOPOLY.

! leans costs two dollars per barrel. And
this. not because the supply throus bout
| the world has run out, or that the mines
! have been worked to exhaustion. On
the contrary besides what is left under
! ground. there are something over twenty
| millions of bushels OF coal in barges in
the Ohio, ready for transportation and dis
tribution as soon as the ice breaks and
the river rises.
This coal is equally as attainable in
summer as in winter; thai is, it could be
mined, brought to the surface Of the
earth, loaded into barges or other means
of transport, lust as well when the Chic
river is in its best state for navigation,
as when it is either frozen over or dried up.
1t is worth while, then. for people who
are paying two dollars per barrel for coal,
which would yield sufficient profit to
the dealer at seyeutv-ive cents, TO inquire
how it is that every winter, just at the
time when people of small leans, who
are not ''forehandcd" enough to lay in a
stock OF fuel until they Want it. and are
compelled to purchase how it is that,
Just at that time, coal should so up to
two dollars per barrel, instead OF being
procurable at seventy-fye cents or less.
The fact can neither be concealed nor
denied that the coal business Of this city
is in the hands o: four or Ave large
dealers. agents OF !it;sburs capitalists:
and as these dealers would much rather
have one dollar and fifty cents Or
two dollars than seventy-iye cents per
barrel for coal. thsy certainly keep back
the supply. which should as certainly
have been in the city ready 70: consamp.
ton. early i'll the fall. to meet :hc wants
Of winter. How is it that every winter
the same thing happens: Why is it. in
the nature of things. that coal should be
dearer in winter. when it is most wanted.
than it is in summer. when i: is wanted
less: There is 40 reason .hy this should
be. If coal were plentiful in winter. it
would be cheap: bu: in osder tina: it shall
be dear instead Of cheap. r. scarcity is
created. by neglecting to lay i'll a full and
nnfailinS supply when i: is practicable 70
dc SO
The persons wae. ss im:orSe:. o; and
dealers in coal. advertise tina: :he- are
prepared to supply the public to any ex.
tent az the very loves: :ase' sand such
advertisements a-s seen in the pape.. very
often. assume an implied obligation to
seq that the public az. supplied at e'eap
rates: and this could be ace emphasized by
seeini: to it. tina: plentiful supply is
!,reush: dcw.s iugin. the summe: or :al!
months. ready for winte.'. consumption.
Wnenever the dea!e-. do this act Of com.
moN honesty. instead Of keeping the coal
back % enhance tho price. nobody need
ever complain a: Sac scareity CT Gea:nc,s
OF :he article.
sini~fa: is iei'l:.e.; .: these ,ncaovo-
lists, namely. to procure for Us coal at al
ho2es: price could ;c done. and :sbund.
antlr done, still leaving them 4 large :nar.
gin Of prois. 10: 81 will not !se denied
tina. Ga! Gan br rrough; to New Oriean.
and landed Tor .:;::.-!i:e o. :o::: csats
PEI barrel.
There ha4 Been. rom Time 20 time. n
.yca: o,1tcr- anon; Is about iesa.;zed
:nouopoiies. The Crescent: City Slaughter
housc, in particular. has been cited as
one o: the most opproo;o,;, Of the class.
Well. even admitting this. i, the
monopoly worse Or :nore od;ous that the
constant: and systematic practice Of :ais-
ing OF the price o: coal jus: at this sea-
son when the augmented price vii! fail
most heavily on those who can least bear
it.: On the contrary, would it not he better
for the poor. those least able to protect
themselves. were = company chartered
with sufficient means. exclusively privi-
legged to sell coal. bu! undey strict obliga-
ton TO keep always certain amount in
the market: The combination Of the
coal dealers and tho pregnant fact that
coal being detained there is always a
scarcity just at the time there should be
plenty show the existence of 4 most for.
midable monopoly, which might well
justify the incorporation Of the law to
check.
Should this evil continue, who can find
fault if the evil be rsmedied by legisla-
tive enactment-by the charterins Of a
coal company, fos instance, under proper
restrictions