The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-08-31
The Dead Combination.

The breaking up ofthe great coal combina-
ton, as announced on Tuesday night of
course will leave the producers Of this neces-
sary article of domestic economy freedom to
work as they choose Tie combination has
been viewed from almost as many standpoints
as there were men interested as buyers and
sellers, and consumers and the opinions ex-
pressed of it ranged from the perfectly cor
rect, on the part of the companies compos-
ing it, down to ''the most gigantic wrong
ever attempted" Which opinion was the
correct one we shall now soon probably have
an opportunity of judging. a year or two Of
experience has shown us just what effect
resulted from combination. 1t secured for
US the gradual and regular rise Of the price
of coal in the market, and at tie same time
the cutting down the working time at the
mines to comparative idlcness, and the glar-
ing inconsistency Of reduction of the miners
in time and wages to a scale far below even
the most economic scale Of living.
1t would seem that things cannot be much
even, in the mining regions under the COM
petitive plan, which will supercede the
condition, than they have beon for some
three years back while it is not without the
bounds of reason to believe that the rcduc
ton in the price of coal, which will naturally
result from competition among the freed
operators, will prove such stimulous to
manufacturers in the cotton, wolen aud iron
ho ti,-
increased demand for Pennsylvania S great
staple, secure steady work at fair wages.
The profit on the single ton of coal will Of
course be less, but the aggregated profits on
the increase of tons, rendered necessary by
the demands of the manufacturing districts,
in consequence of lower cost, may, and doubt
less will, be much more. The fulfiment of
such increased demand will require the more
steady running of the mines, and as the ex-
perience under the combination has led the
working men to close steady and exercise
of economy, what wages are now paid, or
even shade more of reduction, would pos
sibly be submitted to under the prospect of
steady work.
We do not arrive at these conclusions
under mere guess as to the future. We
base them on the assurances which have been
so frequently given by operators in every
branch of manufactures throughout the coun-
try, that it was the high price of fuel alone
which compelled our mills and furnaces to
lie idle altogether, or run on the short rate
time which SO many had adopted. Because
of this, it was alleged, the manufacturers
could not proftably bring their prices down
so as to meet the changed financial condition
of the people, and hence they were compel
led to manufacture at loss or stop altogether
Ofcourse they chose the lesser evil.
What produced the break up in the combi-
nation is yet, in great measure, matter of
conjecture. 1t has, however, been plain for
some time that all was not accord among its
members, and it is possibly true as is alleged,
that owing to financial pressure there have
been, as the marble boys would say it,
inchings over the line by some of them.
This of course would be resented by the hon
est members; and it is altogether probable
that because ofsuch inchng and such resent
ment the rupture has come about One
thing in connection with the combination is
sure, and that is, that nowhere throughout
the country has it been discovered that any
good grew our Of it to any one save to the
companies interested, if to them; and the
sentiment is beginning to become general that
laws should be passed, especially by the
legislatures of Pennsylvania and New York,
to prevent any such experiment in future.
There are thirty-six Scrantonians con-