The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-30
ONE OF THE CAUSES.


We find the following, in reference
to the coal fields of middle Pennsyl-
vania, in q recent issue of the Chicago
Times:
s'The leading mining and trahspor-
tation corporations have held several
meetings to consider the question of
general suspension of production, and
it is unofficially announced that the
mills will be generally closed about
the 18th inst. AT that time Franklin
B. Gowen, president Of the Philadel-
phia andReading Coal and iron COM
pany-which has taken a 30 per cent.
slice of the miners wages-will ar
rive in this country from Europe.
The cooperation Of this coal king is
only needed by the other coal barons
to order a cessation Of mining in the
various districts Of the Schuylkill,
Lehigh, Wyoming and Lackawanna
districts. While the Philadelphia
and Reading company is not the
largest, Wealthiest or most influential
one operating coalworks and carrying
anthracite fuel to the seaboard, the
actian of Franklin B. Gowen, to a
greauer or less extent, the movements
of the other corporations.
AN EMPLOYER OF q. 1000 MEN.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron company owns at least one
third of all the coal lands in the mid
die coal-fields of Pennsylvania, the
largest area of which is in this, the
Schuylkill regiOn-and represents
about 100000 acres of anthracite-pro-
ducing territory. The cost of pro-
duicng coal at these times, like at all
other collieries, varies, but averages
about $1.75 per ton. The interests of
this company are SO combined with
those of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad company that, in many re-
spects, they are generally considered
as one corporation. The corporation
employs about $4,000 persons,to whom
when in full operation, theypay nearly
81 100000 in wages. In five years
they have expended over S23, 900, ,OOO
in the purchase of material. The
company's local production is abont
5000, 900 tons annually.
The entire trade has reached an an.
nual product of over 100000 tons
1t has doubled every 10 years during
the past, and well-informed coal men
say that in 10 years more it must
reach at least 40,OOO,OOO annually
The total annual product in 1920 was
but 365 tons; in 1880 it was l74,734
tons; in 1910 S64;379 tons; in 1850 8,
358, 800; in 1850 8.513, 123; in 1870, Is,
600, 900 tons, and in 1875. it was 20,
643, 900 tons. Last year the production
was shortened by periodical SuSpen
sions to 100000 tons. Notwith
standing it is stated that the market
is greatly OverstOcked at the present
time, the natural growth of production
will this season give an increase il
production Of 900 900 tons over that
of last year. and if the collieries were
opened to their fullest extent, there
would be produced some 4,OOO, 900 OF
1000, 900 tons over the demand.
Through some mismanagement
some of the companies have got Their
business in an embarrassed, ever
perilous situation, and, to get them
selves out Of the difficulty suspension.
have been ordered. The men say
that, as wages have been run down tx
starving rates, they might as well bt
idle as to continue work for the Ope
rators, who, in conjunction with tht
railroad companies, are piling up i'm
mense quantities Of coal at the rail
road for speculative purposes mex
winter. That this is the n,Odxs ope
randi of the unscrupulous coal men
lno one can deny. To get even will
the operators, the miners and labor
ers, in anticipation Of further grea
reductions in pay and SUSPENSIONS o