The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-19
HILL PRICE or COL.
The Curious Worsinas 81 n Combination
Formed to Cheaper the Cost Of Fuel.


Formed to Chcapen the Cost Of Fuel.
To THE EDITOR or The SUN-Sir. Here
are a few figures regarding the practical opera
tion Of combination which was avowcdy
formed for the purpose Of reducing the cost Of
coal to the consumer.
In 1872 the anthracite coal companies and OPP
orators paid their miners Sl3 per week, and sold
coal for $3.iO per ton, this being the average
price obtained Mt the auction sales II Scranton
coal In New York for that year. Mr.. Thomas,
large operator, has testified that he made money
then; tut other operators said they ought to
have had 81 per ton to make the trade rcmuner-
alive. Tnis was before the combination was
formed.
In the year isi3 the miners were paid a trihe
less wages. hut the operators managed to get an
average of sig1 or ton wholesale at New Yotk.
By tins time the combination had been organ
Ted aud In conscuuance thereof a reduction OF
wages and an increase In the price OF coal went
together This increase netted the companies
aud operators an aggregate OF $2I.3S7,500 eX ra
profit on the ye. r. production, Without count
inc their e inns on the reduction Of wages. Ia
le,i they reduced their miners wages ten per
cent. aud added another - cents per ton To- the
wholesale plicc of coal at New YORK ana Phila-
delnhii, M KING II SbI3 per ton. In this NrHr
they produced 13i.OUO tons less than in $50,
but got S3,3slOOJ more money. ageiegatiug s.N,-
iGs. extra profits for tho two Wears named on
the rise In price Of coal alone. How much they
made besides out Of the fall In wages Is not 80
easily figured up.
In 1876 thcv reduced tho miners wages anoth-
er ten Ter cents tut kc't up tn. price of coal IA
usual. getting another S3UNUOOO or more with
out counting tue gains ON the reduction OF
wages.
For $50 the average Of nlncrs' wages will he
about sll per week, h,i ing Vrr, little reduced
from those ~ last yea, except In scatt red
cases bV what J. called tVu 10 lion, ana the
pii 't- of seal to prev b tui trc Ncu hay" Just
been liked iy TIE combination - as To .vcrlpc
81 ~ ptr ton ON urtIrait ctu,rt IS, ana Sfdi on
long So. son contracts. which VIII give tucu am
uth,r a-gr, -atc Of extra prohts of aUOut 81.
$1,000
THUS we find TINT y combination. which waa
formed Wit the avoWed purpose OF chcapeuiug
coal to the consumers. VIII h We mulctcu the
people ont 81 about SllltWUN IN the suncc Of
four wears hy the incre SO OF the piicc Of coal,
brought about 10y IL influence alone.
In $50 according to the best obtained dat D.,
the total amount expended for wnges aud mate
rial going into tine mining # coai "a the anthtd-
cite region was $.dii9i6c which furnishes a
guide whereby To- Sccrtatn tie gains Of tno
Goa King on a rcductiun il those Items. ne
will foot up bout N.OJv ~ tons. anu 1t has been
seen that - per ton would We oeen enough IN
lSs2 to make the trace remiinefii've. while SON o
operator claimed that thcy made money even
at $50 pr ton hut even civin. thein the benefit
ut the thirty cents per ton, II must be assuu. ID
that with tie decline IN " ge~ and mtterial II
ut least twenty Ter cent. and iie large SAVINGS
In commissions and other items claimed to have
been effected bN the continuation, 50 - would
Zoe very fair whoirs tic price Tor coal at New
found to tie Sl.tO nig er n lsij, Sl.Gj ~ l-1i,
al out the sane ngufc in ls,5 ana Sl.2j IN 1870.
The worst f. 4turc Il nll this isthat the great n
part OF this excess n DR. rs goes to Europe to
dcnds. Of when but small portion ever comes
bacs uraiu. ant then only to be reiuyC s.ed IN
Ike rat suCculfiun- SCHJNLKILI.
l'oIIsvlLLg, Pa., March II, $50.