Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-07-15
More Moves by the Majestic Monopoly

THE READING RAILROAD JEALOUS OF TIE TRADE IN
LEHIGH COAL IN wILMINdroN-1r THREATENS
To ESTABLISH ITS OWN YARDS HERE AS IN PHIL
ADELpHA-THE PROBABLE EFFECTS OF SUCH
MEASURE
There seems to be no limit to the schemes Of
the Reading Railroad Company. Having la
bored for several years to prevent the building
of highway between this city and the coal
fields of the Lehgh region, and being foiled in
their attempts in this effort, they have boldly
inaugurated ''new departure" to defeat the
objects and aims for which this new highway
was built. And in adopting this new line Of ag-
gresson of which we are about to speak the
souessness of the Monopoly il once more ex-
emplified, and it's determination at all hazards
to control the coal trade not only OF Philadel-
phia but of Wilmington, plainly set forth.
Until within very recent period the coal con-
sumption of Wilmington and the surrounding
rural districts has been almost entirely OF the
Schuyllill variety, mined and shipped by the
Reading Railroad Company, either by their rail-
road or canal. There are in the city twenty-five
coal dealers, and their aggregate sales amount to
about one hundred thousand tons per annum.
This is a considerable item, and one which gives
promise of greater Importance in future years II
| the exclusive use of the Schuylkill coal can be
by any means continued or enforced, and 1t is nc I
! to be supposed that the Reading Raroad would
| consent, free and independent AZ trade and COM
merce u.s. in the generally received opinion, to the
adoption of any measure or the construction of
| any railroads which would 80 lessen their annual
receipts and blight their prospects in 30 fruitful
| a field az that in which we live. Hence the vig-
| orous warefare which has been waged against
| the Wilmington 4 Reading Railroad and its ex-
| tension.
| few months ago one of our firms of coal deal
ers introduced in the Market at Schuylkill prices,
| a species of Lehigh coal mined in the vicinity
of Wkesbarre thoghInot strictly the best article,
aud this introduction has been attended by
unlocked for results. Many of the heavy indus
trial Embellishments in and about the city have
discarded the Schuylkill coal and it has also fal-
len into comparative disusein the more modest es-
| Establishments and in families, 30 that it is es-
timated the consumption has been reduced full
ly one-half or say forty thousand tons. The APP
probation of the Lehigh coal is also increasing
very rapidly, until other yards are beginning to
sell it. ordering through the firm which intro
The knowledge Of this fact coming to the
ears of the Monopoly they first ascertalned itt
correctness and now they threaten to. do here
as they have done in Philadelphia establish
wards Of their own to create stronger compe-
tition in the trade in Lehigh coal. In this
event we may expect the same results
to follow here which befel the Goa
dealers in our sister city, viz the
driving out of business altogether OF many OF
the smaller firms aud the closing OF theirsyards
entirely. The effect of such condition as this
will be apparent to every one who has the adj
vancement of the city at heart without any re-
Election, and some means should be adopted
whereby this design may be defeated Iht
Reading Railyoad Company, il 1t determines ful
ly upon the plan, will not stop to consider Tho
consequences, but will push its enterprise
through at all hazards We have evory reason
to believe they are in earnest in this matter, ant
have taken pains to verify what We have above
wruten.