The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-15


As general proposition, all monopoies
bear the most heavily on those the least
able to bear their cxtortions for, in ninety
nine cases out of hundred, all such com
binatons, which form monopoies, are for
the purpose of cXtortion. 1t does not
always come out of the poor in the first
instance, but they are the victims and suf-
fcrcrs in the end. We had occasion, some
months ago, to refer, somewhat at length,
to the cXtortions practiccd by the combin-
alton of the different railroad. mining and
other companies practically controlling the
larger part Of the mining, transportation
and selling, both at wholesale and retail,
of coal in New England, New York, New
Jersey and the larger portion Of Pcnnsyl-
vanih, and we have, now, Il fresh instance
of their mcrcilcss cxtoriions. The Pen
nsylvania coal company, which does not
belong TO the combination. has largely re-
duccd the price Of coal during the present
month"; This has been their custom for
ycars-that is to reduce the price OF coal
during the winter months. The benefit
that this reduction is to the poor may be
seen, when it is stated that this company
mine over onc-scvcnth of the anthracite
coal produced in the United States, and
that their business is largely, if not wholly,
retail business If we understand this
statement, it means that different depots
are established along their linc-for they
operate a railroad-at which coal is sold in
larger or smaller quantities to suit purchas-
ers. While making large profits by this
course, they, at the same time, greatly and
the poorer classes. No one, we presume,
supposes that such course would be taken
unless reasonable profits could be made
thereby. They divided, last year, twenty
per cent. on their capital of four million
dollars, which surely ought TO satisfy the
most grasping monopolist. This large
profit is made, be it remembered, over and
above all expenses, and with the policy.
carried into effect, of reducing the price in
winter when the poorer class of consumers
only need it.
The policy of the other companies those
forming the combination or monopoly, is
entirely different. During the later spring
and earlier summer months, they put coal
down to the lowest price Their officers
and agents state that they do not propose
to follow in the wake of the Pennsylvania
company, but rather, intend to increase the
price from time to time, during the months
when its use is an absolute necessity, and
decrease i. when it is only wanted for
manufacturing purposes. The effect is
obvious. The rich are benefited by this
course, while the poor are doubly OPP
pressed. We have never seen an estimate,
but we have no doubt that us much coal is
used by the poor, laboring class, whose
whole subsistence is dependent upon their
daily labor, as by their more wealthy
neighbors and the manufacturing establish
ments combined Whether this is true or not
and even, if they do not use one tenth as
much, the oppression is the same, the only
difference being in!its extent. The manu-
facturer, and the man of wealth, can put in
his winters supply of fuel when it is at the
lowest price. In fact, the officers and
agents of this combination nvow that it is
their object to compel this course. If it
stopped here, it would be no hardship, be-
cause this class of men can buy it at one
time as well as another The loss of a few
dollars of interest is as nothing compared
| with tho loroar eux.i,,t, Ia, la.
too, can easily provide places for its stor-
age. When we come to the vast body of
consumers, we mean in numbers, and We
think in quantity, in the states mentioned,
it is altogether changed. They have no
| places for storage, and if they had it would
do them no good They are not able to
buy their winters supply Of fuel from four
| to six months before it is wanted. They
have not the money to do il with. Depend
ant cntircly upon their daily wages, they
buy coal by the quarter, half or full ton as
they are compelled to use it. They cannot
be forced to purchase in the summer, be-
cause they have not the money. This is
the curse of the whole business The IA
yorcd fcw--to whom it actually makes no
difference what price they do pay, dollar
or two, more or less per ton, being mere
agatelc-having the benefit of the reduced
price, whilst those to whom it would be a
god-send are compelled to contribute to
the already plethoric purse of the coal
monopolst. Would, for humanity's sake,
that we lived on the line of the Pennsyl-
vania coal companys railroad