The New York herald., 1875-12-30
THE COAL COMBINATION.
AN OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS
AT THE MEETING OF UNION COAL COMPANIES
ON sA,URDAY-PRoBABIE LIMITATION OF PRO-
DUcTIoN-AN INCREASE OF PRODUCTION AND
CONSUMPTION DURING THE YEAR

DUcTIoN-AN INCREASE OF PRODUCTION AND
CONSUMPTION DURING THE YEAR.
WrLKEsBARRE, Pa. Dec % 1875
As tho of 1875 draws to a close there is
strongly increasing interest in all directions to know
what the gigantic combination OF coal companies
intend tc do the coming year Several prema-
ture announcements have lately been made in
regard to what the action OF the rep
resentatlves OF the combination will be at the annual
meeting which takes place Saturday next the
1st prox Everybody is anxious TO forestall knowl-
edge 10 the forthcoming programme, and consc-
quently iomc very incorrect and mischievous state
ments have lately crept into print in relation TO that
matter. All classes in the community are deeply in
terested the dongs of this important council of
coal magnatcs, and hence the most wild and
cohercht prognostications appear to be received with
the greatest credence The miners are very much
exercised learn whether the combination will make
another assault upon wages The merchants are most
desrous TO ascertain whether business is to be pros
trated by another long suspension the great body
OF coal consumers want TO know what prices they will
be compelled to pay for the staple. We have rumors
that among the matters TO be considered Saturday
VIII be reduction OF ten per cent miners wages
and the policy OF a general suspension through
out the anthracite coal regions for portion
at least, ifnot the remaining months OF winter. These
will be the principal topics OF discussion and it is most
probable that both points will be ultimately determined
upon.
PROBABLY DONE
From the most reliable sources il has been learned
that the combination will not deviate from the policy
of prices adopted at the commencement OF this year.
and the rates viii not be advanced beyond those now
current and which have ruled throughout
the season. 1t is hardly anticipated that
there Will be renewal OF the struggle
between capital and labor, II the suggested
duction OF wages should become fixed fact The
men were completely worsted by the only contest
which was inaugurated in January last, and not in
a condition to resist an encroachment, even il they
so inclined. They will doggedly submit to almost
anything and wait ior the more convenient season.
which may never arrive The fact ls all the striking
procivities OF the have been taken out OF them
and miners and consumers OF coal completely at
the magnanimity OF the producing monopolists
One point in favor OF the miners Is the fact that the
combination has become little dcmoralized among
themselves not sufficiently to mar the harmony OF the
organization, but perhaps enough TO keep them from
resorng TO extreme measures for the further oppres
sion OF their employees. They have not so much coal
stocked as they had last year, and are almost as
poorly prepared for another tight the men, But
whether there VIII be an attempt to reduce
not remains to be seen, and this matter may be
down with the other speculations which agitatng
our mining population. The OF bitterness IN the
combination alluded 10 above comes from the per-
sistency OF the Delaware Iackawanna and Western
Railroad Company, the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company aud the Pennsylvania Coal Company to ship
coal against the rcmonsrance OF the other members OF
as last summer, and was alluded to at the time
despatch from this city.
JEALOUSY
seems to have boon engendercd by the fact that the
companies mentioned had iull swing during the long
suspension aud fully supplied tho summer market,
while the other large corporations suffering from
inaction When work was resumed the corporations
which. had languished from the strike claimed
that they should be allowed the entire
kct Tor time, but tho companies which
had been skmming the pan Kept right on, but slightly
reducing their production. This action Will be
matter OF consideration at the Saturday meeting, and
the discussion cannot fail to bo warm and animated.
From the present outlook II certain that the
combination VIII determine upon general suspension
point which viii amount to nearly the same thing Mr.
Charles Parrish, as usual Is rather noncommitta in
relation to this question OF suspension especially far
as the lehigh and Wlkesbarre Coal Com
pany Is concerned, and oracle gives
rather ambiguous intimations TO what may
be expected He insinuates that his company will not
suspend, or at most not moro than week two in
an indication OF hr. Parsh's probable action in the
meeting on saturday, and may form part Of his grum
bio against certain parties in the combination What
ever may take place in the approaching gathering the
coal monoposis II may be regarded hxcd fact that
the general purposes oi the combination will not be at
all disturbed They intend TO hold the trade, they
have done, with rod Of IRON, keep in the
hulows Of their hands reap such profits as may be
possible from The contingencies and cxigencics OF the
times They have como TO regard their Union as tho
one thing desirable in the coal trade and there is
danger OF break up and nying at each others
throats ior the present The last has demonstrated
one TACT, significant and important Ia this connection,
tho coai combination has bad the power 10 almost
HIuSa out Of existence most powerful union o