The sun., 1873-01-11
A GREAT COAL COMBINATIoN.
The RaiIrseS Maspstes Crushing the Small
Opcrators-Cor ON Coal Transporta-
tion-New York ut their Mercy.

Trinity Building and its neighborhood
are excited over a report that the various coal
companies OF Pennsylvania have united 10 crush
out the smaller operators. Conversation with
several prominent coal men developed the fol-
lowing facts:
There nre four large companies who do all the
coal transportation for Eastern Pennsylvania.
They are the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern Railroad Company, the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, the Deleware and Hudson Canal
Company, and the Reading Railroad Company.
Each of these corporations besides its duties as
common carrier, owns coal mines and coal lands,
and ms coal sells at tho mines at less than ~ per
ton for the yearly average, II will be seen that
trans portation OF this mineral must bring in a
handsome sum TO them every month Coal has
been worth In New York city about $40 during
the year. and II IL scarcely cheaper at any point
In New Jersey or IN that part of PENNSYLVANIA
which consumes the most
The anthracite district produced last year
about eighteen millions Of tons, OF which one
by railroad PRs remainder ieT at % per ton
would give s2j,0o00O0 az the receipts OF the
companies In one year for moving coal from the
mines TO tidewater, besides the profits made in
mining, and their other business, This, how
over, is not enough to satisfy them. The Read
Ing Railroad Company have been attempting for
"a year or two past to secure the passage of an
act enabling them TO buy as much real estate as
they wanted. This enactment finally passed.
and pressure was put upon the owners Of
collleries to induce them 70 sell out. Some
consented, while others held out. The
company then made a proposition to the
owners Of lands to sell to the railroad their
whole product, the company guaranteeing GER
tain price per ton, and holding IL for sale, In the
manner Of the oil Ring of Western Pennsyl-
vunln. The owners naturally objected to this
as the difference in quality would bo lost to
them. The company own control lands
that now produce 2,sO0000 tons, and the
private owners raise $4,000 tons per Rnnurl-
or together about G,tO0,0OO tons II they had tho
latter amount the Reading Railroad Company
could successfully bull or bear the market at
any time. IL Is understood that most of the
small owners are opposed to this plan. IL the
Reading Company should Join with the other
three great corporations all the East would he
at their mercy. The eighteen millions Of tons
now raised by them supplies our foundries and
factories and warns our houses. BY perfect
union, with a monopoly OF the market, they
could raise the price OF coal a dollar ton, and
keep u there. such measure would result in
atotal extlnguishment OF several branches Of
OF iron, and would compel every family through
the whole Northeast to pay yearly tax OF i've
or ten dollars. There are no other available
mines excepting those of Maryland, which pro-
duce only about two millions OF tons year.
This would he the most gigantic Ring ever
known In American monetary circles.
The operators are not sitting down and fold
Ing their hands. They rely ON the action Of the
sitting In Philadelphia. They have engaged
counsel, and will contest the matter to the end.
Franklin II. Gowan, the President OF the Read
ing Company and its leading man, at a meeting
held day or two since. II is said, told body OF
operators that "this thing was going through.
II YOU object and put obstacles In the way. |
shall reduce my price cne dollar a ton" That
would ruin the operators
The Reading Company are said to have hor-
rowed large sums OF money In England TO carry