, 1873-11-02
In Extra Profit Of $500,o0o,0o0 Real.
ized by tho Coalition in
Ono Year.
The Manufacturing Supremacy Of tho
Kingdom Most Seriously
Jeoparlizod.
Combination Of the Agricultural La.
borers Against the Tenant
Farmers.
Miserable Condition Of tho English serfs..The
CONSERVATION Caused by Their
Present Demands.

Special Correspondents. Of Ths Chicago Tribune.
LONDON Oct. II, 1878.
There arc eome economical problems unsolvcd
IN this country, TINT aorely distross tho minds,
not only Of tho thinkers and writer's, but OF
millions OF people. Ono OF these ia tho quos-
ton Of tho aupp1y Of cheap coal, and another
tho wages Of farn-laborcrs.
For hundred years, Groat Britain was the
land Of
CHEAP AND ABUNDANT FUEL;
and upon that fact was founded and reared her
manufacturing supremacy. Ooal. is a form
Of forco, and, BY combustion, changes into
tho strength that drives tho loom,
tho wheel, tho forge, the steamship ;
that reduces ores into metals, and metals into
railways. engines. tools, plows. yehicloa, and
othor Of tho appliances OF civilized lifo. Tor
many yoa1B a ton Of this Indispensable form Of
force indispensable for preparation OF food,
and personal protection against the rigors of tho
elomentB, aB we'll as for manufactures-aold at
tho pits mouth for $1.60 to 50 per ton, In all
the coai-miniug districts of Englnnd and Scot
land. Every effort Of tic operative to increase
Lis wages VAS firmly resisted by the rnino-owner.
Combinations Of the minors woro mot by COM
binations Of tho Companies strikos, throw
ing out Of employment tons Of thou
sands OF men, often laBted three
to six months; and il, at tho end, the
strikers gained concession, it rarely exceeded
few pence on the ton.
But q tme came when the Companies ceased
to resist demands for advance Of wages. About
two years ago, 4 change came over the spirit Of
their dreams.
A SECRET RESOLUTION
was arrived at to concode whatever advance tho
men desired, aud then add it, twice or thrice
over, to the selling price Of tho coala They
exactod from tho officers Of the Mining
Unions single condition az considora-
tion for any increaso in price Of
mining, viz: the absolute right, on the
:part Of tho Companies, to limit tho "out-put" "
Of coal, that is, the quantity that should be
drought to the surface at all tho mincs. The
men readily acquiescod in this condition. This
combination between tho Labor-Unions and tho
Coal-CompanieB was completed, and tho conspir-
acy against tho coal-consuming public WAS per-
facted little moro than year ago when, all Mt
once, without any apparent cause or reason,
the price Of coal throughout tho iuand
VAS DOUBLED!
The effeot Of ouch an enormous advance In
the price Of fuel is very serious. "A ]aturb-
ing eloment, its consequences cannot yet be
foreseen or computed.
The recent Committee Of tho House OF COM
mons in their rocons report, cast oil tho blanc
on the niners for The limited output and the
doubling OF tho price. But tue pewpapers point
out that It would be impossible for them to ac-
,complsh such limitation without tho assent or
connivance Of the Coal Companies, and tho wagos
have only been advanced = or s shillings per
ton, whereas tho prlce at tho pits mouth has ad-
Tailo tho coal-diggers receive rs to 100 nor cont
advance on former nav, tic owners charce from
800 to 400 per cent on their formor 1narpin Of
profits, Thus they rob in coupleg h,lt the own
era take the lions Bboro OF tho Bpoi1. Iho CON-
sumption Of coal In Great Britain last year was
about 12O. 600. 900 Of tong and tho general ayer-
ago advance OF price to oonsumors has heon
about 81 per ton al round,-making tie On
or1nous difference Of
$500. 600 900 PER AsSun
in this ono product, The coal-merohantB and
freighting companies, both by water and rail
hnvo advanced their commissions aud ohargou'
Having pockoted s500, Zoo. 600 extra Profits
among them in single year they are not likely
voluntarily to fall baok to. old pricos no matter
how much tho general public may complain or
Tho Limitation Of tho output keeps coal con-
tiuuslly ecarce. There are no lurse ouantitos
OF it above GROUND anywhere. It il doubtful Il
there is a months supply now mined in Great
AN ARTIFICIAL COAL FAMINE
throughout tho island Tie unions will mt
produce ton more at tho pit's mouth than the
minimum quantity needed, Alroady tic con-
sumption OF the past yoar has lronpod 10. .0l]O.-
BOO of tons as cou}pared with 1871, TART of thfs
falling OF IL the result OF economy in domostjo
consumpt,on, part in e1portation and tho rest In
manufactures. But, instead of Tie dcoreaBe
alarming the colliers and owuers thoy profoBs to
bo pleased herewith, as it econollizoa tic stock
Of coal vet unminod. Tho operatives are hap1,y
IN the great advance Of wages and reduction of
work. There are now no COIL strikos," They all
have half to two thirds employment, md receive
twice az much for their labor as formerly. but
all accounts from tho eonl. mines coucr Ia slut
ing that thoro las been IN alarming Increase Of
drunkenness, social vice, and domestic quarrelB,
among tho minera since the sutllen advance OF
wages. Tho effect Of doubling tie coat Of conl
III being felt by MI classes Of society, aud is
sislbly exhibited in general
ADVANCE OF PRICES
OF domestic commodities, aud u domand OH the
part Of artisans Of all tratleH for higher wages,
OF Hnryants and 1aborors for moro