National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-30
The ANTHRACITE COAL TRADE.

The ANTHRACITE COAL TRADE.
The labor troubles in the Pennsylvania
coal regions are assuming fearful proper
tons and taking a riotous shape. They
present another phase of the great contest
of the day between capital and labor. AL
though the interests Of the two are really
identical, and must prosper or decline to-
gether, the short-sighted leaders upon both
sides, by assuming to dictate the rates and
policy for the other, keep the surrounding
community in a state of constant excite
ment. By the obstruction of labor opera
tons capital is deprived of its legitimate
profits and the laborer of employment and
its adequate reward. These strikes and dis
turbances are an unmixed evil, which, if
severely let alone, will soon work its own
cure. The great desideratum, however, is
the ounce of prevention which is more
valuable than pound Of cure. The means
of prevention are nearly always in
the hands of the capitalists, but
strange to say they are always loath to use
them. 1t seems to be the chronic evil with
the employing class that they are slow to
raise the wages of labor in good times, and
swift to reduce them whenever a strin-
gency occurs in the money market In the
present case the coal monopolies are at
tempting to establish an advance upon the
prices of coal for the season, at the same
time that they are debating decrease of
the cost of mining The result will be, if
they succeed, to give them higher rates of
transportation or greater profits upon their
business for the current year.
In tkis view of the case, the great coal
consuming public and the laborers are to
be the victims, and the great, rich and pow
erful coal companies the benefciaries. The
sympathies of the public, therefore, are
likely to be with the miners. Meanwhile
the quantity of coal in the yards and in
the hands of the companies is being
rapidly reduced, and the supply for
the immediate future promises to be
sufficiently slender to aid the monopOlies
in establishing the advance which they de-
maDd for the season. The Philadelphia
Ledger gives the following epitome Of the
trade for last week and for the season thus
far, with some well-considered comments
upon future prospects: 1.-The anthracite
coal tonnage reported by the several coal
carrying companies for the week ending
ION the Goth instant aggregated 234, Ola
tons, and for the year 10 date to 8, 2Gl. OILS
'tons, against 4,110,561 tons to cor
responding date last year, showing de-
"crease of $40, SAG tons. The bituminOus
land for the year 402, TAO tons, against
"422, 81 tons TO corresponding time last
year, a decrease of 10000 tons. Tie
total tonnage of both hard and soft Goals
reported amounted to 2SS, 800 tons, and
" for the year 10 1903, 764 tons, against
"a, 533, 1872 tons to corresponding time last
year, a decrease in both kinds of $685.
"tons. These aggregates are subject to
deduction for so much coal as passes over
more than one road, and thus Is doubled
Gin the above reported aggregates. The
amount, however, is not very consider
able, and does not change materially the
relative production of the companies.
The quantity of coke and coal transported
lover the Pennsylvania railroad for the
week was 60, 931 tons, and for the year
" $50, 149 tons, of which 430, 431 was coal
land 80, 71S coke. This embraces all the
local carried over the road, both anthracite
"and bituminous, east ard west. At Port
Richmond, for the week ending the 9th
" instant, the receipts of coal were 1000
"tons, the shipments 5000 tons, leaving
"but 16, 500 tons on hand. Wequote freight
"charges TO Providence at $1.75 and to
Boston at 50 per ton. The trade continues
Gin much the same condition as for month
or more past. In the Schuylkill and Le-
thigh regions production is very nearly
suspended, the men holding out in their
:" demands fOT wages on the same basis as
"that of last year. Wesee it stated, though
1--WE are inclined to think it an eXaggera-
ton, that about forty thousand coal
"miners in this State have suspended
mining labors within the last three
"wonths on differences as to the matter of
- wages. While we do not report any
" change in prices of coal here in Philadel.
phia, the fact is quite apparent that the
" supply is running very low for both
Schuylkill and Lehigh Goals. In large
part of the Wyoming coal region the
wages proposed by the operators have
"been accepted, and thus the northern and
" eastern coal markets are kept pretty well
/" supplied with fuel. The minimum cargo
"prices of coal from this port for the sew
d" eral sizes of red and white ash Schuylkill
range from $3.50 to $3.50 per ton, the
average being about 81. For the month
" of April no prices of coal have been fixed
" in the Schuylkill or Lehigh regions, nor
" is it probable that any future prices will
"be named until there is a resump-
" ton of mining or an agreement to re-
sumo definitely determined on. While
I" coal is being produced in the Wyoming
"region at the lower prices agreed upon
between the operators and the working
"men, it will be difficult to resume in the
regions standing out for higher wages, as
e. the coal costing least to produce will, at
Z" the lower prices, all the time command
{" the market. At the iron furnaces in the
" eastern part of the State the scarcity of
anthracite coal compels steadily-in-
I" creased use of bituminous, some of which
L" is brought from beyond Pittsburg and is
used near the banks of the Delaware.
The situation in the Lehigh coal region