The New York herald., 1876-07-27

THE COAL QUESTION.


BuMoRs OF A DISSOLUTION THE OFF,
GERS AND RETAIL DEALERS SAY.
There is no doubt that the combination OF wealthy
corporations comprising the great coal monopoly Of
America is in trouble or course tho Delaware, Lack
awanna and Western Railway, with Mr.. Sloan at its
head, denies this Mr. Franklin b. Gowen the Presi-
dent OF the Philadelphia ani Reading Railroad Com
pany still understood believe In tho stability and
power Of the combination. Mr.. John Taylor Johnson,
Of the New Jersey Central says 1t is far from the truth
that discordant counses prevail in coal circes but in
spite Of these protesations coal stocks continue 90
down, down, down, and the rumors on Change FORE
tell u dissolution Of the great combination which was
formed among the mllionnaires to corner coal.
Every month dotatorial circular is issued from
headquarters to the retail dealers.
DIFFERENCE TONNAGE
HERALD reporter among the retail dealers through.
the city learned that there much competition
among the agents combination and that coal was
offered prices to the retail buyers Although
the price was raised fifteen cents per ton for the
month OF August no advance had been made 10
tomers, AS they were always served with 1000 lbs,
while the dealers bought al the mines 2,24o lbs to the
t0n-a "long' ton, IN tact-whie customers sold
'short" ton. The glut OF domestic OF coal
tinues but there Is iar demand Tor larger sizes In
order to understand the question all ihcations
the history OF the coal combination here reproduced
From this II will appear tha the ehigh Valley Rail
Company has always been a thorn IN 4 side OF
tho combination and that finally its carrying about
$4,000 tons beyond the quota is likely to rend the
agreement by which all tho great companies vr
tuay bound.
on May IS in the HERALD erpose was made OF tho
manner winch the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company
was forced either to join the combination or ha,ea
warfare made upon the corporation which would be
disastrous TO i's interests In communication
from Wisosbarre, Pa, the writer say
that previous to last Saturday-l3th OF May-it
seemed possible that the great coal combination might
go to pieces ana that there would he such cutting
prices oil untnraClto Iu6i was never known before.
Tho somewhat defiant attitude uned by The Lehgh
Valley Railroad Company toward the combination has
been reshed tor some time past and the III feeling
the part OF the monoposts was greatly intensified
by the rather bcll definition of Judge Packers
position, made public in the HERALD The moving
spirits in the combination finally resolved TO bring
matters to issue, and either force the Lehgh Valley
road to terms or make warfare upon TIE corporaion
which, while 1t temporarily secured coal to consumers
would also spread and among tho coal
operators whose with the road under
Judge Packers control The comb nation crests
held y meeting, at which II was determined that the
safety OF all concerned IN the coal trade rendered It
pcratvely necessary that tho LchIgh Valley Railroad
Company should be made to draw the traces with
the other great carrying and coal producing companies
hitherto Independent company imn cdiatcly
CAMs PROM THE
which it bestrode in the definition alluded TO, and on
Saturday subscribed to the conditions imposed by
Franklin b. Gowen, Samuel Sloan and Mr. Dickson
without the slightest dissent modification The coal
combination 49, therefore, stronger than over before
aud has nothing to apprehend. Since completing
capture OF the only competitor II had any
It's power Is consolidated This result important as
showing what "a gigantic power tho combination can
weld In emergency. The monoposts govern tho
trade without let hindrance The Pennsylvania
Coal Company is now their own the Lehieh Valley IS
virtually controlled by them, the New Jersey Central is
their power and the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company dictates the terms Tor fuel to the
whole country through their trades UNIONS led by the
consolidated capital of the richest corporations the
world
In order to show how the combination eniods the
corporations ia tie coal valleys 1t Will only
sary quote despatch from WIkcsbarrc, of May S,
olows:-'rbe enforced suspension OF coal Droduc-
ton in the Lehigh region commenced yesterday and
Will continue for twelve full working days The
pension affects all the coieries depending upon the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Tor aud transportation,
and throws some twenty mines in the Wyoming region
into dlcness. This state Of things has been brought
about by the coal combination which has the power 10
coerce even so gigantic corporation as the Lehigh
Valley 10 draw IN the traces without murmur. Last
week 1t appeared If the bonds which held the coal
combination together to be broken and the whole
combination 20 70 pieces, but this was when the Le
high Valley Railroad Company seemed disposed to
exercise some OF us old time Independence and carried
all the coal the shippers sent TO ~ but when It's quota
was and the Notification OF the fact sent
from the official OF the combination. President Packer,
although intimating that his road was common car
rier and Obliged take all freight offered it,
still seemed willing TO make some concessions to the
monopolists"
II was soon indicated however that the Lchgh Valley
road must succumb, andthat the price of coal should
be maintained at all hazards. ihc men were to have
less work than last year. and the suspension OF work
at the mines was to be OF longer duration, and II is
regarded certain that siderable quantities OF
coal should DO mined during the months Of July aud
August.
In this condition of the trade tho views OF
PRESIDENT PACKER OF THE LEHIGH
road, become important. In letter from Mauch
Chunk, Pa. he says:--.rhe suspension OF mining
Affects all the colerics depending upon the Leh igh
Valley Railroad for cars and transporaon and throws
twenty mines In the Wyoming into dlencss This has
been brought about by the coal combination. Lately
It has appeared As though this giant monopoly 10
be broken and road carried all the freight brought
terms IL considered iar; but 1t Is only Just
say that the Lengn Valley Railroad properly stated
the HERALD yesterday, does not as company,
belong TO tie combination, AMI would not be party IN
any way toward regulating the production tue price
OF coal and - not bound by its acts In the second
place. tho Lehigh Valley Railroad Company has not
been party to the establishing Of the coal
combination neither has had voice IN
making up tno quota oi tonnage arranged
carrying companies This Is patent from The act that
IN making up the quota the Lehigh Valley IS placed
fourth the list when, II 1t mad been represented IL
would have insisted being placed second since ITS
tnat OF the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
lany. and that, too, before regular trade north
the Pennsylvania aud New York Railroad cstab-
ished, which amounted TO 7is, COS tons of anthracite
during tue months worked last year No pledge
therefore. on the part OF the Lehgh Valley has been
violated II it's shipments nave ovcrrun ngnrc estab
lished by some parties with whom II did not act
recognize their right to regulate tho amount OF coal to
President Packer denies That hc has been forced
TO yield to the dictates OF the coal combination,
and II Is well known that this corporation eau
stand Just much OF reduction OF the tide
any other, and II Is said authoratvcy that
no combination Of will force tue road TO refuse
to transport any coal that may bc offered, and that
when TO the interest OF the mine and trans
port coal viii be done regardless oil ali threats in
Limitations
What The result OF these disagrcements will bo IL Ia
possible to say but the imUrogllo ono the great