New-York tribune., 1873-01-30
THE COAL CONTEST.
,,p cowTN AND THE PHILADELPHIA
TRADE.

-, ,,opprspoNpENCE THE POLICY OF
T1,e READING COMPANY DEFINED : III.
sTATT or FEELING IN THE PHILAptLfhIA
YRIpE- HOW COMPANIES CHARTERS AXE
OBTAINED.
p,,, .prrpuIA, Jan, 29.-Thcre has recently
,.r spirited correspondence between Mr Franklin b.
.,o,.sn and Mr b. h ThGnas, which has elected many
,tcrcs,inr facts and explains the contentious existing
=, the coal business. The former is the wel-kno~n
president OF the Reuding Company, who, by MS o"n
.orce Of character and will, has become the N","s'
.r,oerat Of the coal trade Of Pennsylvania, ~"n.
she latter Is old, respectable me'Vo' "
she Philadelphia 'cOal trade, President of the i"""S
Goal Company, and partner in an EXTENSIVE I'm
The correspondence arose out o' an invit"'oh n,'
Nj Gowen 20 Hr Thomas and other ooSiEl""''s y"
Pladelphia 20 confer with HMM resaru :" 'no Iu,ul
~ ,he coal siness The conference was he4n ana ie
NIL v, ,,o,,or ,hreatenng 20 persist in carrying
an, the changes he contemplated and 10 she eo"Edeaers
.pleulv yfhdravine and declaring soon after tt theS
were determined 10 make no concessions 70 MN W
change their usual mode o. business MI ahomas On
tle ISL rroxmo addressed Mr.. Gowe1 stf"Dg ie''er
,,ttera,sne his determination not to Oe ccereed ana
,,i,c NAT IL would be as rough sob corporation or
Individual could nndertake 10 bride my t1sl tongue
az resfrain the expressioH hN him Of single thonSh'
lie charged the same time that MF. Go~en had
threatened aud nsulted him; had resorted to suher
fuces and asserted that the courts would give nm pro-
teetion Mr. Gowep replied in oaimeT mood He said {:
Iadruit that at the meeting referred 10 used the
expression that might become ugly and have my own
e,oings aud did refer the action OF those present
M accepting reecRg the proposition OF to their con
d.ef iu deriving the product Of mines. | stated
Mai was trying to help the whole trade and that
cooked for cooperation from those who were present
mat was willing o. cooperate with them In any manner
would advance our mutual interests nut that u
ihoy cooperate with me they could not blame
IIsde
fros that the franchises Of the Reading Coal and Iron
COMPANY were obtained through "briuery. fraud, aud
corruption :" that the o granting them was passed IN
days of the session. and received the Governor
signature nstanter and that u gives the corporation
powers place the coal and iron interests OF sehuY
hin County AT its mercy. He regards the Company 5
Irvneges az iuimea to the interests OF labor, and
charges that Mr. Covers JrOmises of cheap coal are
acusive and purpose Of acquiring complete CON
tToi He dwells ioroibiy upon the evils resulting from
granting powers eea corporations ana points to the
manner IN which individual operators were crushed IN
1,e Iuzernc region by a soulless corporation. Mr.
Thomas closes very vigorous letter with the "assur-
suce Of eternal hostility against al railroad corpora
lions claiming the privileges and franchises complained
Of"
Mi Gowen replies as forcibly. He says that the own
,Tstp Of coal may extent give the Reading
souuauv the monopoly of the coal trade" but such
snonouoy shan he used long he has control
over the Company inure the individual coal miners
who Lave coirlos" in the region. and II VIII not be
very long le saw before MI Thomas viii he obliged to
measuraby increased u value in consequence Of the
R.adins Company action" He closes il this pupgent
style.
our acqu.itlou % large bodies Of Hematte irep oie
lands made solely with view OF iniuing the ore
5itif and cf selling il exclusively 20 those Individual
manufacturers whose furnaces are situated upon
rbr lines az our road other words have expended
barge amounts oi money simply 10 make u certainty .
iLat the bcst location for individual iron manufactures
~ thc future viii Ice 10 the Valley Of the schuylkil
f, ~ LrCW Shat INV secret tioaehts and motives
"a GlluN Won .Il
remind yea uf the Injunction Judge not that ye be not
'ndCe9' Rcfcrring now your more serious charges
81 bribery fraud corruption. brought against me
President of she Company can only say that draw no
distinction between mysef a. an individual and az Pres
daLt Of q company and that hold myself as President
the sauc rules oi morality which have always been
H,.dnr 20 your fancy, however Of separating the two
idontcs beg leave to say to yon a. PRESIDENT on the
COMPANY. mat when Won make these charges YOU are
guilty oi whui malicious and deliberate SANDER aud
M. Thomas replies ny dsclaiminc any intention to
tInpute corruption to the Reading Com
.ary: admits thar the charter was bought from the IN
soryorators s expresses bis want OF confidence IN
fbe Beading Company's plans, reminding Mr. Gowen
tisi be promised that the Reading Company would
u.,sf engage H. the production sale Of coal, and
r,ies a. e general insecurity which assurances can
remove Of placing great powers IN the hands Of eXien
eve companies Nj Gowen replies tarty declaring that
ID, .nrn paid 20 the owners the Laurel Run Improve
mcut Company for tue transfer OF irs charter &C. to
ihe corporation subsequently organized thereon and
known the Reading Co and Iron Company was $50 10
each Of the hye or ncorpOIators aud cose with This
rssurae which s gratifying 10 receive IN these days Of
orTDlt bargains:
Yfrttrf ssy trat since have been the President Of
IL, Rsadiig Railroad Company that Company has never
,uuoycd unfair dishOnOrdble means 10 obtain the
IAs.aIf through the Legislature OF any act securing 10
g. company whatever. any privileges or iran
cisc NhaoycT For an answer TO your questions as to
nc motives of the members Of the Legislature in pass
NC such oils must refer you 10 the gentlemen them
SINCs
hi rhonss's reply ooncihaiory, bat shows that bis
eorvif ous are uuatercd lie says regarding The Read
iuc Con- panes;
You tuve attempted argument To satisfy me that
they possess the 0utrdCeOus powers and privileges
complained o. that although possessing them they
never enforced; therein your reasoning very
Unsatisfactory aud consultations bring 10 fatterinS
Junction. &c lny soul
Thu co-cd correspondence which has excited great
trs c.eeu.sou aud forms interesting phase Of the
see conflict. SxS - u.