New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
CHEAPER coal.

| RrDUcTh1r OF PRICES BY THE PgNNsYLyASJs COAT
COMPhSY-THE ANTIIRACrTE CONDENSATION MAIN
| TANNING THEIR RATES
A. the regular monthly auction sale Of
Scranton coal last week the OF advance price
fixed by the combination maintained. The follow
| ing statement was made time ago to a TRIBUNE
reporter by large dealer coal in reference them
The aueton prices of coal at the monthly sales
IL the reeon between the supply demand
but simply indicate what has already been determined
upon. The sales partially mock auciions and
held for the purpose or liking the prices for the following
MONTH" The declared policy al the coal companies
engaged in the combination, and controlling large
proportion OF tue anthracite coal beds and fe
cites is to limit the production far to maintain
what they call paying prices and 10 increase the price
month by month through the Winter at q fixed ratio
generally about 10 per cent each moutbso to compel
the consumer to the expenses OF carrying tho pro-
duction OF the miner, ut least share that
expense with him. Some officers OF the combining
companies spoke of this increased price pen
atty imposed upon the consumer for delaying the pr
chase of his coal until the time it needed and others
spoke OF 1t as inducement offered hun To accumu-
late his Winter stock OF fuel during the Summer
months. and thus relieve the companies from
storage expense. The combination has been suf-
fciently strong to hz its own priccsi OF the
100000 of anthracite coal consumed annually. all
except about 100000 tons produced by companies
ton Tie Pennsylvania Coal Company Is the only largo
organzat independent OF the Reading Railroad con-
federation and this Company has been IN practical ac-
cord with others until the present time raising its
prices month MONTH TO correspond with those Of
the other companies. The only point Of Disagreement
be the proper time to lower prices from
the highest point The policy Of the combination il to
maintain the rising scale until February March. The
officers OF the Pennsylvania Company argue That ny the
first Of December tbe active Winter demand Is over anu
1t is polite O lower tho price al tlat Tune Ia order TO
brisk Winter trade and prevent the accumuia-
ton OF the yards whereby great expense ana
some waste are incurred. The latter Company have
accordingly reduced tho price OF their coal FROM that
OF last month about 50 cents per ton wholesale,
and 30 cents retail Their retail prices az their
yards about s. 20 ton Tor crate coal - 90 Tor
gg s. 80 for stove and s. for chestnut This Is oXclu
of carriage. The comparatively small amount OF
anthracite coal brought into market by this Company
uyou that tlr combined companies The pennsylvania
Company has q former occasion. pursued the same
course greatly its benefit in working of its stock
yards before tue saRnatou Of the summer
season came but without shaking the united com
panes who pursued different IL IL said that
stroug efforts have been made 10 induce the Pennyva
MIA Company not to reduce ts prices urtl spring, put
they continue the pist to follow the course which
they think BEST rather than place themselves In post
ton to-te subject to the dictatIon OF others
The general pris2ipcs which the course or inc
united companies are defended by most large dealers,
who ia that thersfors simply directed TO the
tablsDp.ent OF a steady business through the Wnole
year that so doing they only followed the exam
pie by the Pennsylvania Company years ago It Is
also Charmed that the combination was formed
prces have ad yanced very little, and have never gone
up AZ an IN properties the rise other products OF
industry The office the Penns ylvaDia Company
approval of the general pctcy OF tne otner con-
10 be as proper tme the interests OF the trade
to lower the price.