The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
CLOGGING THE C0ALTRADE.
DITEICULTIES EXPERTENCED BIZ
THE OREAT OPERATORS.
VIII the Price Of Coal Come Down -secrots
of the Trade President Goweu's $4,000
600 LnMsnIi-NeM GnlLlerica 10 be Opened.

part Of the programme of tho combination
which assigns TO each party to the compact its
portion Of the supply. That company being up
to It's quota, has to stop, and In this line all the
rest will follow In their turn, and the trade
starting out very unfavorably to the combine
ton, frequent stoppages may be looked for dur
ing this year. Since the commencement Of
operations In the Schuylki regions, on the ID
OF April, none OF tho mines have worked
more than half time, yot tho supply for
this year up to this date Is reported to be 7,2u
tons in excess OF that OF the corresponding
period OF last year OF anthracite alone, and &c.
900 tons OF bituminous. During the week end
ing Thursday, April n, there were shipped l12,-
4sO tons more than during the corresponding
week OF last year The wbarves at Philadel-
pbia, the coal yards, and many cars along the
line Of the Reading Company are reported fulis
and no market. Hence the working Of half time.
and rumors OF an early suspension perhaps
this week-in the schuylklll region also, although
many OF the individual operators claim that
| there Is no necessity for IT, The latter claim
that they have orders to keep their mines going
full time for a long time to come, tut that they
| ore prevented by tho company not furnishing
the cars for trans portation. This Is one of those
results OF combining mining aud carving privi-
| leges In one corporation. 1t In a handy means
| of crushing out competing interests. But why
is II that the corporations are overstocked with
! ahead that they are unable to supply owing to
lack OF cars, which is accounted for 10y many
| standing along he line full OF coal. for which
| there Is no room on the wharves and In the
ysrds2 The explanation Is two fold, but very
simple.
Previous to the monopoly each operator tried
his best to create good name Tor ms Toduot.
Consumers chose the brands they thourht best,
and becoming accustomed to them they are
10th to part with them.
POOLING THE COAL
These distinguishing marks beclms obliter-
ated when Mr. Il. u. Gowen Of the Reading Com
pany either coaxeC or compelled most OF tue
u NO e Il mxe G The result IS thai
the demand for special Goals cannot be satisfied.
On the other hand public opinion Is so strong
against the combination that many large and
small consumers refuse to buy coal. tue sale OF
which Is controlled by the corporations. This IL
especially the case in Philadelphia and along
the line of the road Mr. Gowen thought to
coal ALI in the Sy So pse
but the veil being too thin no material benefits
arrangements, from tho formation OF the Coal
and Iron Company down to the perfect control
, Of the Schuylkill coal trade from which he ex-
pected SO much that be made the most enticing
. promises to the stockholders and hondholders
Of the company, have only resulted In loading
him with an elephant, which he finds ANYTHING
, but pleasure to handle. lie evidently did cal-
culate upon this turn IN public sentiment, for
be made the most strenuous efforts 20 avoid u
= by various subterfuges. IL would be folly TO
suppose that the combination managers did not
anticipate this early clogging OF the market with
, their coal yet, In Difference TO the pressure OF
work on The ID OF April, long before they were
y ready; hut y was Thought that the puoilo
!
+ short suspensions Us OF one or two long ones
a The result OF all this is obvious IN the declne
: | Of tho stocks OF the companies Readlng stockj
I which but a few ponths ago ruled as high as n
a to so, has declined to a. few weeks ego IL
as low as " eu. BSrs Granrs exSesrsq y
a the company, rushed in and bought up SONY
5000 sharfs Which bad ihs e SS 10 senn fs
i. For the 6rst time ip the presyenGy q IN
y Gowen dividends are passed. He Is now hndnf
out that 1t Ia one thing TO say that NJ much musf
| ha Zpd % q "A
N one when the times are Hush, and quite another
"a thing to do II when times are dull ana reopis
- won't ouy from him.
COLOSSAL LAWSUIT.
Added to the pressure OF public sentiment
and the hard times. he IL now haressed nv n test
4. lawsuit to recover the large sum Of two million
dollars, alleged to have been oyercharses by the
company for transportation OF coal during four
N years. This suit IA brought by Eugene Bol ia,
formerly miner and shipper q coal, snd whom
re MIR. Gowen delights to call the " smart little
X Frenchman." Mr.. Borda is simply the represent
-, ntive Of large number Of men who are awaitin
~ the result OF this case, TO make sim lar Demands
Ia Several bills for the repeal OF the charter Of tue
IN Philadelphia and Reading corporation have
y been introduced In the Legislature. and are
pressed with some energy. Al these things
n naturally have subdung influence upon the
ry stock OF the COMPANY and II would be strange
II the stock Of the other parties ~ the monopoly
AZ his is ali anomalous state for the coal trade
ID to be In even these dull times. TO the con-
sumner the rrice - go :, . mo r,,,srs M.
'e working half tine on extremely low wages. and
n, Yet the great coal companies are in stfaitened
I CIRCUMSTANCES. Everywhere they curtail ex-
RI. pens,s to the lowest possible point, improve
IL ments are stopged' ana a put the very best Of
nv mines are totally suspended.
~ The Reading company Is to susl end all OF its
" own collieries On the 10Th 81 MAY, Whine :ho in
II dividual operators, with but few exceptions.
nj will continue to work. he cars required to
M carry the companN's coal VIII then be ut the
M service OF the operators, which viii supply thom
az with all they need. This is done ~ mutual
St agreement, and amounts Tor the time being to
~ an rerogation 81 the compact entered into be-
~ tween the two interest. ~ the beginning OF the
~, year rs at the time announced IN III SuN. This
an VIII ultimately result In the cheautnng Of coal
~ to consumers. There Is a growing disposi ON
nv on the ri Of the operators to act independent
mr. ~ for themselves. as they have discovered that
~. the combination has been no benefit to them
~ | sad y prominent character The other day IN
W speaking Of ms connection with the comhna-
~ ZION. acknowledge the corn have been
sold" II they can. therefore. hy any means
Te th,ir own hook, thoy viii open upa healthy
- competition. sell co AT "A fair proht, which, II
~, TIE ret tiers COOPERATE ought - amount to from
a.. 81 to - ton, and even more IL the tran, poi Ia
>" ton companies would make reduction IN
" fr ilhts ana tolls corresponding with the reduc-
ton In wages and mateiial
Meanwhile the improvements conceived hy
curiaiied or suspended. In fact. even as late
~ TINS week ground has been broken neaI
1T Frachyille for what promises to be one Of ths
Of most extensive colcries in the region. This
Ms work Is under the auspices OF experienced
NJ Do sen Of anie.sncss in the future
y prospect Il the trade. ard there need not he
as any when II is remembered thnt me coal
al product II tie little kingdom Of Great Britain Is
90 iour tunes greater than that of ou ylst country
ho Nothiu. Tut the most extraordinary ci- cum-
IN stances could affect tie coa trade 1t Is .fected
ok | now.
%, SUFFERING COMMUNITY.
is Meantime tie whole community Of the min
or tng region suffer rNtIcWCN. intt-Nlllr has A
in hundied empty houses, VIA the little town OF
r. pOit Carbon las ftrfN, ma %. Ufatr Towns in
nj proportion. y snc-s r. almost 40 50 iulstll
is aud for corp ration rule Is unN ,rsnlN cons
Iis drmned. even among thuac VINO ma calculated
nd upon great htuent- from IN.
er In the suring Il ls,3 Mr.. Gowen for the frs,
90 TIN nut himself between the u aud thu
-st miners IN the settlement of the uu stiun III
he wages. lie wrote "A letter to the officers Of the
cr Miners Union frDUualug "a Cuulurutuisc, and
1d pledgng ms COM pony to do It's utmost To secure
Ms stc.dy nix thruughout he car AClthcr that
ly year nor any year since las there been stcauI
Id work. Frequent sLs, Cnsinr7 have taken place
d. most II winch were in~idluuslN brought about
he hy tie uucfutors r. comI.ulrs hy various meant
* already dr-cUued lu lnE SrN, Owing to tu,
on ntwnc,4 At the experiment, the public CCull
OF be cu-ik deceived rs to the true ruis,
cd IL these stuui ages; but now that the Noil in2
ID men are anxious TO continue work upon Hlnos
lie any terms, and are win dlnitaliy driven INTO
60 hLIenun .lnm. Tie mimi NnraLlLnn. VIII n. -Ll.n