Middletown transcript., 1871-03-11
Tuwuruss PRICE or coAL.


The combinations among the large coal
operators in Pennsylvania. in November
last, made this fuel SO scarce and denr ms
to cause great suffering and intense excite
ment nmoBg consumers in various quarters.
In many places the price has been put up
to Slj per ton, and in New York, it was
sold to The poor by the bucket full ut the
rate Of S2j aud $50 per ton, The strike
among the miners which commenced Mt
that time, on account Of the operators
combining to lower their wages, still CON
tinues. and thousands of miners have been
thrown out Of employment, and their FAM
lilies are almost in starving condition In
New York, many poor families have been
compelled to cat uncooked food, and there
has been much suffering from cold in the
habi,ations Of the poor In Jersey City
guard had to be placed around the coal
train in order to keep the suffering peo-
pie from soiring and taking OF the coal BY
force. In Paterson, n. j. the public
schools had to be closed for the want Of
ceal. and prices advanced in Brooklyn,
Boston, Phiiadclphia, aud other places
whore the supply was short The smelt-
ing furnaces came to halt, and many
workmcn were thrown out of employment
This state Of things very naturally created
great excitement agains, the authors of it,
aud joint resolution was introduced into
Congress by Fernando Wood, to repeal
the duty on foreign coal Of s % per ton
The wisdom of this repeal has been called
into question, as only bituminous coal
from Nova Scotia, comes into competition
with American, the freight on anthracite
or hard coal fromEngland, il is alleged,
, being too great to allow Of iis impor,a
, tion.
When Noyia Sco,ia coal was admitted
! free Of duty, ns !, was, some years sincc
! i. is alleged ,ha, II was only used 70
n making gas and steam, aud not over 8,
800, 900 tons per year were consumed
. II is admitted however, that It's use woul
q lesson the demand for anthracite for ga
IS and manufacturing purposes, aud thu
/. help 10 keep down the price Of that aT
d ticle Besides the use of soft coal /
/. crates. new stove has been invented fu
=. burning it, n, Elaira, New York, and
A. might be brought into general use,
t. coal were duty free, for then the increase
,c demand for it would not be likely to Gu
in hancc tho price of Cumberland coal. whic
: is more directly protected By the duty
i. S1.2 per ton. in gold, or Sl.i0 in Gu
ms rcncy.
$: The whole country has been literal
s. roJLci, for years, by these coal monop
O. lists, and it is high time that some elic
e. tual remedy were devised to put stop
~ it. The cxhorbitna, prices Of coal, f
ed scveral years back, has been out Of :
an proportion to the cost Of production. NJ
an il the men who have conspired to produ
cd this state Of things in the fuel market we
10, punished by suitable legislation, BY inca
ed ccrsiion in the pcni'en,iary, the pub
,r- verdict would be that never cluprits 81
ns- fcrcd more justly.
,e- There is some force in what the "
N. York SIN says, in the subjoined extra
re- as to the legislation needed to regulate t
wn coal trade, aud We would be gratifca
idc see the Legislatures of the coal-produc
The States take prompt action in the prems'
The SIN says:
n What We need 10 secure cheap anthracite
i, free competition among The mine owncrs, md 81
,.e a restriction on the railroah companies MS
preyen, their charging exorbitani rates oi iroie
=, let ilc Legislatures OF Pennsylvania and \
- Jcrsey ix the tolls the railroads IN III
:" ~ States At reasonable figures, aud let the sn
w W coal operators bring their coal to market vi
! 90 ou, being crushed BY the great nouopolies,
W then We Shall have no further trouble. Pr
w will takc care OF themselves, and aniharcitc
', W will be plenty aud cheap again.
II