The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-09

Nearly all the miners and lahorers Of the several
anthracite coel0elds of Pennsylvania are united in
an organization known the Workingmen's Be
nevolent Association, the avowed object OF which
is to protect its individual members by securing
uniform rate Of wages based upon and rising and
falling with the market price OF coal. In the year
1859 the three transporting and mining com
gions refused to pay their wOrkmen upon any
hass Of wages that would be affected by the
tween the operators and the workingmen OF the Le-
high region occurring at the same time the result
fer 1--WE months in the wyoming Lqckawanna, ana
Lehgh coal fields. Pending this strike the operators
ana workingmen OF the first and second coal-felds
agreed upon a basis of wages under which
work was resumed in ali the regions depend.
x pany. WI and nd The the large tonnage Of 1859 was
obtained. The rate of wages thus agreed upon
that year was based upon So per ton Of coal at Port
Carbon the minimum price, and recognized the
right OF the wOrktDgmen to be paid upon this 81
basis no matter how much lower the market price
Of coal would fan. AS the supply in 1869 was very
much. curtaled by the suspension in the other
operators taking advantage OF the bileness Of their
competitors, were enabled to pay wages upon this
Sa bs snng o trade eoS n sSo sfer s
panies and operators OF the other regions had
eltner compromised WIN Inelr men or accepted the
terms OF the basis 1t became evident that the high
rate Of wages which prevailed In Schuykil, North
umberland and Columbia counties in 1869 could
nGt be paid by She operators, for 1t Yves well known
that If all the coal-neds were producing largely the
average price OF coal at Port Carbon would not ex-
ceed from S225 to 81 90 per ton and that wages at
SO basis Of 1sG9 paid the Of the coal at
Port Carbon would exceed the market pnsce.
association, known as the Anthracite Board OF
Trade, proposed a new basis for 1s70-reeognizlng
$3.50 as the minimum price OF coal at Port Carbon
but the workingmen insisted upon the basis of 1869,
refused 20 accept the proposition, and suspended
work. After being idle fer four months, and entail
ing loss upon the members of their association OF
at least 81 100000 and Of twice that amount upon
the other interests connected with the trade work
was resumed on the LIST OF August, under compro-
mise basis, which might probably have been OBJ
tanned during the first week OF the strike but for the
feeling existing between COptpndinu
The strike OF 1869 In the upper regions enabled
the operators OF che first and second coal fields to
obtain high prices and to pay high wages, and the
suspension Of 1870 in the lower coal fields enabled
the Wyoming and Laekawanna Companies aud the
Lehigh operators TO do the same. The capacity OF
production bears such 8 proportion te the demand
for consumption that stoppage of any one large
region enables the operators and workingmen of the
others to realize large prices for their coal and high
wages for the labor, and thus disposition is enge.
dered on the part of those interested in lining to
look upon the coal trade as speculation In which
the unfortunate disagreements between labor and
capital in one section may be turned to the profit of
both In another, and always at the expense OF the
public, and ultimately to the injury Of every industry
connected with the trade
The controlling power in the Workingmen's Asso-
ciation s held by the delegates from the upper coal
Helds, who, by their votes in the general council, are
enabled to force suspension OF The first and second
coahelds, the result OF which is to raise the price
the majority to obtain high rates OF wages at the ex
pense OF the idleDess and suffering OF those repre-
sented BY the minority Another great evil results
ton to enforce the short sighted policy of raising
prices by stopping the production OF coal forgetting
that high prices. and uncertainty OF supply viii
drive away buyers, force manufacturers to turn to
other fuels, and prevent the natural increase OF de-
mand which would result from low prices and which
would soon supply certain market for any tenn
PQrary overproduction.
like that OF the Workingmens Benevolent Assocla-
tioD, acting In each region Independently OF the
other, dealing directly with tie representatives OF
their employers, and ia all cases of difference re-
ferring to the decision OF some 0isnterested umpire
instead of resOrtiDg to strike, would be produc-
These questions are, OF course, to be settled en-
tirely by the operators and the workingmen them
selves, but as the frequency OF strikes ana the
uncertainty and irregularity OF the supply of coal
seriously affects the great manufacturing interests
OF the Schuylkil valley as well the traffic of the
company, the managers have thought it advisable
TO announce and they will enforce, such policy In
the adjustment OF tolls Will probably prevent the
recurrence Of any long continued strike ia the
future.
the Stockholders Of the road may be congratulated
upon the fact that the coal tonnage has been greater
than that Of any previous year, with the exception
ton upon coal have been less than they have been
for seven ears past the rates of passenger fares
reduced 10 per cent, below what they were in 1862
and the charges upon merchandise freights as low
as or probably lower than those OF any other road
in PenDsylvana the total expense Of Operating the
road for the year has been but IS per cent Of the
gross receipts aud the net profit has been over
The entire coal tonnage Of the main line for the
year was 3750,9e0 tons, and the actual number OF
tons Of coal transported on the main line aud
branches 1885, 504, leaving SS25l4 the tom
mage Of the branches not included in that OF the
main line During the four months ending Novem-
Der 80, the coal tonnage OF the road was greater
than that Of any four months OF any previous year.
Notwithstanding the reduction OF rates and the de-
crease OF travel and merchandise traffic. which
always attend suspension Of the coal trade the
receipts for merchandise, passenger, mall ETC., have
been greater during the last year OF the Companys
existence. The condensed table accompanying this
report shows the receipts from these sources for
each year since the year 1885, and exhibits the graft
flying fact that they have increased from 1892
1850 TO sse4, ,3ss In 1850 ans $S,Oi2,496 Ia 1870
During the year the graduation and masonry OF
the Perkiomen Railroad, between SchwencksVille
and Green Lane, have been completed the construc-
pushed rapidly forward, and the whole line will he
ready for the superstructure early in June next.
The Lebanon and Pine Grove branch has been fin
ished and put into operation; the Allentown Rail
road, between Topton and Kutztown, has been CON-
pleted, and large amount OF work has been done
between KutZt0wn and Port Clinton; the extension
of the LOrberTy Creek Railroad TO the coal openings
upon the Fishing Creek estate has been constructed,
and number OF branches TO new eollIerles In the
other coal regions have been built all OF which are
expected to be productive during the coming year.
The system OF railways now controlled and worked
by the company aggregates 116S miles OF single
track, as shown in detail by the accompanying re-
port OF the Chief Engineer, and to operate all OF
these lines, together with the Schuylkill Canal re-
quIe the services of force OF IL 600 employees
During the year new cars and engines TO the
value OF 1867 62OO4 have been added TO the property
OF the company, and in addition thereto Sl24 iT2 86
has been expended in rebuilding engines and cars
and charged to renewal fund.
The rolling stock Of the company is now in a very
high state OF efficiency. The rebuilding OF engines
and cars, to take the place OF those worn out OF
destroyed, and the large amount OF repairs annu-
ally expended on those In use, have Kept 1t, at all
times, practically equal TO what IL was when new,
as very large amount OF this equipment has been
during the last few years. paid for out OF the sur
plus earnings OF the company, and charged to in
come account as expenses The amount charged &C
locomotive engines and cars in the capital account
of the company, S6,Os2 1871 but very inadequatelJ
represents It's extent or value. Some idea OF tht
amount OF this equipment NAV be formed from the