Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-31
PRICE OF COAL.

us that the time is not far distant when
the whole country will have to rely upon
the coal mines for their fuel, as the large
cities and villages already do. This pros
pect gives an interest to the manipula-
tions of the coal trade, which would pass
away without much notice, were it not
for the reaction produced by the neces-
sity of paying the advanced price brought
about by the thorough organization of
the market The antagonisms in most
manufacturing enterprises, between capi-
tai and labor, are engendered by at
tempts of capitalists and employers
to reduce the price of labor to such a
point that an enlarged profit can be OBJ
tanned on the sale of manufactured |
wares, and still keep the prices obtain
ed down where the competitions of
trade, and the natural laws of supply |
and demand have fixed them and in
such case a strike of laborers, or a con-
certed movement by them to obtain bet
ter pay, is positive loss and injury to
the employer, and he seeks to avoid such
an emergency; but the coal trade has
developed a different order, and the
great monopolists, who control the mar
kets, engineer and promote an annual
strike of laborers, if possible.
1t is a well acknowledged principle of
trade that the prices sustained by any
commodity, are governed IN part by the
supply on hand in connection with the
nature of the goods. Now, coal being
mineral product of the earth, of an uu-
perishable nature, costing in its prepara-
ton nothing but the necessary expense
of raising it from its place beneath the
surface, can be accumulated in such
quantities, that following the analogies
of all articles which are plenty, it would
naturally he very cheap at the mine. So
it becomes necessary in order to increase
profits that the market should be man
aged; and one way of doing that has
been to raise and store a large supply,
and then for the proprietors of mines
to reduce the wages of miners or in
augurate oppressive measures to produce
a strike, and when a general strike takes
place the holders of coal Immediately
advance prices and sell off their stock on
! hand at greatly enhanced rates, their
| stock i'm the mountains remaining ready
| for the pick whenever the supply out
side is exhausted. The nature and eX-
| tent of the coal regions of this country
| have aided these movements; for not
withstanding that the supply is mex
haustble, the region which has been
productive of coal is limited, and few
heavy capitalists have by thorough or
Canization obtained control Of the prin-
cipal mines of the country, and by CON
ccrted action, can force mp prices at any
time they may desire.
This is a splendid chance for our
friends who work out reform by legisla-
tion. and we have heard much said up
ON the subject of fixing limit on the
price of coal by law. We don't want
to see it tried, however, for our recol-
lection is too vivid of the short lived
disasters, resulting from the control Of
the gold market by Congress few
years ago. People must counteract the
influence Of combinations to their inju-
nv, by counter organization or by judi
dicious buying; because if a majority
of consumers would take advantage of
bottom prices and keep a few months
supply of fuel on hand, they would not
be injured by these schemes to enhance
prices. aud after one or two attempts to
force artificial rates upon the market,
had been met by a corresponding re-
duced demaxd, we should cease to hear
of owners of minerals procuring strikes,
or stopping work to ''bull the market. "
The monopolists have inaugurated a
system of moderately advancing prices
from month to month as the season adj
vances. 1t is accepted by the consumers
as the fixed policy of the trade, and it
will without doubt, be adhered tO,at least
for this year. The knowing ones say
the monthly advance will be about ten
per cent, and the holders feel sure of
keeping their trade and sustaining prices
by keeping a steady movement of tonnage
for the remainder of the season. 1t is
probably policy for all who can to
procure their supplies early and as soon
as possible accumulate a supply, so that
the market will not be so easily and COM
pletelv controlled. We trust if this coal
question cannot be forced from the die
tatorship of those who hold monopoly
of it, that the genius of the age will dis
cover or invent some other less expen-
sive way of generating caloric, and that
the dry bones of the coal combination
will rattle and collapse as suddenly and
effectualy as did those of the Boston and
New Bedford oil monopoly, upon the
utilization of petroleum as an illuminate
ing agent.