Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-25
The Coal Trade.

At the last session of the Legislature bill
was passed with only four opposing votes 10
both Houses Of the General Assembly reduc-
ing the tolls 90 coal over the Cumberland anu
Pennsylvania railroad one cent per ton per
mile, so as to make them TWO cents per ton per
mile for distances exceeding ten miles. Soon
after the adjournment Of the Lagisaure, now
ever, it transpired that on March g. 1876 the
property of the Cumberland and Pcnnsy wanna
road had been conveyed to the Consolidated
Coal Company. The frs. public iutmatioD OF
this condition of alters was the rendering Of
bills for tolls due the Consolidated Coal Com,
pauy for transportation over the Cumbcrani
and Piedmont railroad. 1t appears mat the
charter of the Consolidated Coal Company,
granted March 9, 1860, gives hat company he
RICH, to purchase, build, OVID and operate rail-
roads apd acting under this au' horlty The com
pany have acquired aud intapd to operate the
Cumberland and Pennsylvania railroad as the
Cumberland and Piedmoud railroad. and will
continue the rate of tolls IN force prior to the
passage Of the act reducing the rates 90 the
Cum berland and Pennsylvania road The
transfer is only nominal one, as the ConsoIi-
dated company owned most of The stock OF the
road. An act amending tue general lncorpnra-
ton act 30 as to prevent such transfers Was
passed by the last Legislature, but the Cum-
berIand aud Pennsy AHA railroad Anticipated
its operation by making the conveyance before
it became law.
This action has occisioned great deal Of
Consideration among the other coal companies,
who assert that the reduction Of tolls enjeav-
ored to be made by the Legislature Is Dcccs-
sary to enable them to continue to work their
mioes with any profit The Maryland com
pany has closed up It's mines; two other com
panieS have also discontinued work, aud o her
companies, it is said, will follow. If any gen
era suspension Of work takes place it will occa
sou great distress in the mlplng regions aud
greatly impair he business aud revenue Of the
Chesapeake AMI Ohio canal.
The American Coal Company, the New Cen
trail aud the Maryland have petiioued I'V.
Carroll to Instruct the Attorney General t. in
stitute proceedings TO test the validity of the
transfer and of the action Of the Consolidated
Company 10 adhcring to the old rates, aud 1.-The
Governors answer is now be awaited, the be-
lief being that be will grant the r, quest and so
Instruct the Attorney General. Senator Getty,
of Garrett county, was In the city yesterday,
and expressed the opinion that the Governor
would grant the petition OF the companies, but
thought that unless more expeditions mode
of settlement could be obtained there would be
great distress in the mining region. Ih:re are
some four Thousand miuers who are always IN a
needy condition when spring opens, and II the
coal companies stop work they will have no
meaps OF support. Senator Getty states that
the Consolidated Company has exhibited no
disposition to couciliate or to compromise, aud
the contest bids fair to be protracted one.-
Baltimore american.
We have very late and reliable information
to the fleet that there is no possible hope OF
general resumption OF coal shipments until the
Consolidation Coal Company submits to the re-
quirements of the law or is forced to tar set
Element. 1t is useless 70 dwell upon the loss OF
business generally and the injury Inflicted upon
ind viduas by rhe Existence OF the present dead
lock in the coal trade. The question IS, what
shall be doue? The Consolidation Coal Com
pany, operating under charter generally be-
lieved to be fraudulent, and of at least doubtful
legality, successfully accomplishes au evasion OF
the laws of the State by a transaction OF the
most questionable character. and thereby de-
stroys the business of d Zen communities,
prostrates great public work, renders inactive
millions of capital, and throws thousands OF
needy and suffering people out OF employment
Are not these high-handcd proceedings? Now
there is means of redress somewhere. aud the
executive officers of the State must call 1t into
reuuisitioo. Ii the Consolidation Coal Com
pany is caIlous to human suffering and udltter-
ent to the voice of public sentiment, 1t must be
forced to respect the law, and made to fully
realize the danger of tr fling with the rights OF
communities. The people must move and move
at once. j. II them meet 10 mass meetings aud
give expression to their views, so as to strength
en- the arm of Governor Carroll by that stronp-
esl support OF all-the endorsement of the peo-
pie Cumberland Times.
During the week ending Saturday, April %,
there cleared from this port by the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal lO7 boats carrying l4,4l7 03-
5000 tons less than during the corresponding
week of last year: Of the canal business last
week the Consolidation Coal Company did over
one halt, dispatchiDg sixty-slx boats carrying
IA, 76l II tons of coal The Borden Mining
Company did fair business, sending out TWEEN.
ty-eight boats loaded with 1913 OF ions OF
coal. Most of the remainder was shipped by
the BIaen Avon Company.
A round trip from tldewater to Cumberland
aud return. by means Of the steam cauaI boats
now running on the canal, is made in six days
and eighteen hours Cumberland Ne,oS.
Davenport and Barrett, two of the actors
who appeared at the National Theatre, 10
Washington, last night, accidentally missed
the train at Philadelphia, yesterday, but the
manager, MIR. Jarrett. receiving telegram to
that effect Immediately telegraphed back to
Mr.. Dodman, of the Philadelphia, Whining
ton and Baltimore Railroad. to send Brutus
and Cassius on by special train regardless Of
expense. MIR. Dodmsn dispatched them, and
they arrived just in time to don their costumes
and commence the play, at 40 expense o.. $3.50
Mr.. F. e. Bangs, another one Of the actors,
is native. and for many years. was
a resident OF this city. He appeared as Marcus
Antooius, and for the speech over the dead
body Of { a ar, and superb delivery of the
funeral grafton, was called before the curtain
to receive popular ovatons that any player
might we'll be proud Of
Mr.. j. s. &. Tmberlake. an old and re