The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-29
TO-DAY'S GREAT COAL SALE.

There Is a proverb which says something about
honest men coming by their when those OF
other stripe tall out And although it would hardly
be just to compare the great coal combination the
latter class. still there is something exceedingly
healthy and pernicous in the existence Of such ggan.
tic monopolies the one above mentioned. That the
members OF the combination have fallen out. and tbas
coal is the present cheaper is matter which
OF late has excicd much interest and touching which
there has been great deal OF talk in the city. IL
Is not the rich, but the poor and among
tho poor the most wrctched, upon whom
such combnatio ions these b. ar mosteheavy. People
want to know why II is that II they Afford sell
thor coal at 80 startling reduction and still make
large profits these compaues deliberately band them
selves together TO force from the people an cxtor,onas
price Tor OF the nccessaries OF lie They ask what
would be the cas-. Il the great our concerns OF the
country were TO adopt similar course, and in tho
lace OF general s;agnaon and widespread suffering
werc TO decree that the people should only get bread
treble the price at which would be remuncratve 10
the farmer. the miller and the baker. In latter
case it is easy to iorcsee what the result
would be. Such experiences as that which
the people have made mt the hands OF these combina
tons go to persuade them that however good .
thing liberty may be- stu the liberty OF the few OPP
press tho many in tho matter OF tho accessories Of
lie, Is not contemplated IN the constitution Of this
other country, 81 don't know now II H." said
prominent merchant III conversation on this subJccs
vested in people o. this Republic, they not ut.
tempt mako their representatives frame some laws
which VIII protect them against these monstrous
nopoIes IL Is great and growing evil, ind
fraught with much future danger 10
tho peace oil tho country. In England
Parliament will not allow gas companies to declare
than 4 certain dividend their invested capital.
and when tho limit Is passed they bound by law 10
reduce the price Of the COMMODITY ind this because
Is considered al the accessories OF life. In the
way tho government France protects the pe0-
pie from cxorton at The hands OF great corporations.
Aud although at rst sight this seems DO infringing
on Individual liberty Is not 80 In reality because the
monopoes, when charging exorbitant rates for thor
commodities, arc re lily committing Migrant wrong
against the community and ought 10 be dealt with
sequence Among here at home that the opy
which look for tho present tho Of
the evil ITSELF But coal is not luxury; people
not either do with It or without II any than ia
the OF bread, aud in waiting TOR the OF the
evil Itself these cases. the government will
day nnd i,solt involved in very serious trouble
glad, and SO is every right thinking man in the
city, that the coal combination has come to grief We
hope they will 30 on lighting just az the railways ara
dong then tho poor VIII stand some chance. But
that such things be at all ~ bad very bad sir
Tho consequence OF tbs disagreement between the
coal companies Is the sale Today 900 600 tons OF the
black diamonds. The sellers are tho Delaware and
Hudson, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, and
the Reading aud Pennsylvania. The terms and cond-
tons OF The sale, which viii DO made by John W.
Draper Co, at Hanover square, at noon to-day,
similar those which have regulated former sAlcs:
III, sale VIII be positive TO the hsncst bidder bids
being made account OF the companies. Tho general
feeling that there will be brisk competition Ut
moderate prices.