New-York tribune., 1874-07-31
TIE PENNSYLVINLA coal AND IRON IN
TERESIS

CONTINUED DEPRESSION OF TUE COAL TRADE-AL-
ILEGED SCHEMES FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
OF THE TRADES UNIoNs-TnE IRON INTEREST
LOOKING UP.
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIGUNEl
ALLENTOWN, Penn, July 20.-A visit through
the anthracite coal regions Of Pcnnsylvana develops
the fact that the great coal interest is still greatly
depressed and while the operators are receiving but
few orders and contracts the coera suffering de-
crease OF yagaa All the coiegies are running on two
Thirds time In all paris OF the coal fields Many OF the
workings are entirely stopped, and IL is feared tha
complete suspension will shortly be announced. Large
quantities OF coal piled up at the various depots
and shipping points at tide water The aggregated
quantity now floating" will reach 1.00)OOo tons
While the combination is reducing production t main
tains the schedule adopted earlier in the year The
wholesale prices this mOnth range between 10 anu 10
cents CHER than last mouth It is the general impress
sion among retailers that the monopOlists will SO fix
the market that dealers viii be forced 10 exact from
rs cents to 81 more per from tho in Sep
tember
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany, which is recognized as the leader OF the coal
ring has just resorted TO q monopozing scheme
which has created no little excitement in the circles
most interested Recently the Berks County Railroad,
extending from SltingtOn L3high County, TO tine city
of Reading the adjoining County OF Berks, was fin
ished. This road affords direct communication from
the schuyki and L9his coal regions to the Delaware
River via Reading and Wilmington Railroad, and as
TRANSPORTATION was cheap by the line, some coal
dealers determined have Their coal shipped from the
Lehigh region by way OF Slating0l and Reading. Un-
expectedly So the Berks County Rlroad management.
the freight tolls between Slatington and Reading were
raised 55 TO 90 cents per ton for all coal shipped
over their road. The purpose OF the Philadelphia aud
Reading Company is TO grasp the entire trade OF that
section in which this new ment has been naugu-
lfei kk fha nns inf
the Berks County Railroad, il has been learned that
tbe entire anthracite coal trade Of Pennsylvania Is
under the control Of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
road that the other producing and transportation com
panies are almost powerless to make shipments from
the Legh region, unless the wishes OF the clique are
acceded to- is stated that IN the present instance the
Reading Company refused to distribute The coal Of the
Lehigh Company Philadelphia unless that corpora
tion raised the tolls from Mauch Chiuk to satnston so
hgh that the trade OF the Berks County road would be
affected The thing DONE and the tarn Is so heavy
tbat the corporation which binds all Others to It's will
can purchase coal in this city aud transport TO Read
ing by way Of the East Penn Railroad one Of its leased
Iines cheaper than the road can. This action Is
believed to he unconstitutional, and there is re-
mort that the matter Is not ended by the cor
poration which has been wronged
The miners Of the Wyoming region are becoming
aroused In regard TO the extortons OF the Company
stores and already large meetings have been held in
various parts OF the region az which resolutions have
been passed condemning them as obnoxious, unlawful.
and injurious alike 10 workLgmen and the individual
merchants Several local strikes have recently
cured, and one is now III progress at shlck-
shiny. II seems THAT the Salem Coal Com
many mad some difficulty with some members Of
the Miners National Union, and the men were dis
charged meeting was held by the golfers employed
1y lie Company, aud it decided 70 strike. James
O'Halloran, County President and state Executive OF
the National Union has issued notice TO the miners OF
The United states caatiOning them TO stay away from
the works The Union Is being thoroughly organized
aud from what has been aScertained t Is certain that
strike should be decided upon by the miners at
any time they would be prepared TO hold out against
the ope ratsrs for indefinite time IL - not likely,
however that there VIII he any rupture this
The iron trade which has been greatly depressed.
s recovering from it's prosration IN some districts OF
the state this Immediate section some OF the prom
inent iron works have partially resumed, and 1t Is un-
dersood that other furnaces are TO be blown IN soon.
The Fundae Works of the Catasauqua Manufacturing
Company have commenced operations. The Crane
Works are about blow In another furnace. The Allen
town Rolling Mil will resume upon the completion OF
necessary repairs The Valentine Works. near williams
port the Girard Furnace, Sharpsyle which bas ca
pscy VI " tQla day the Esie Mills, the Rosina Fur