New-York tribune., 1879-05-19
Will THE coal CONBLNATION BE RE-
CITEU7


The death of Judge Packer. it has by many been
supposed, might cause a renewal Of the coal combl-
nation. Not little speculation in coal stocks has
been based upon this expectation. 1t seems worth
while. therefore, to invite attention again to the
evidence that the combination to keep up the price
OF to limit the production of coal was in reality not
more nurlous to the public than to some of the COM
panies engaged therein. perception of this fact
is understood went far TO cause Judge Packers
opposition to a renewal of the combination.
Practical experience Of it. and of the advantageous
results of an open policy, ought to lead other
companies to oppose any combination mere
after Since the combination expired the COM
panies have escaped strikes, and have been
able to secure an important reduction ID
the cost Of mining and transportation. Nothing
is more certain than that tho miners and other em'
pioy6s would quickly demand and surely secure the
lions share OF any temporary gam which the com
panies might get from consumers by Il new conlbl-
nation. But it is equally certain that the gain
would be only temporary, for the consumption OF
coal, now very rapidly increasing, would at
once be checked again by any return to
monopoly prices and restrictions of the production.
The iron manufacture. which has begun to revive
rapidly since the combination expired January L,
would inevitably be prostrated again by any mate
while forced to pay more to miners and other em-
ploy6s, would Immediately find the consumption
checked
The experience since January has been very In
structive. The companies have delivered to May
10 not less than 7,j73795 tons of anthracite,
against only 4,48O4 49j during the same weeks last
year. Even at the present low prices, this increase
in the traffic has brought greatly increased revenue
10 the companies while the cost of mining and
transportation has nlse been reduced. As conse-
quence while the net earnings Of the companies
have been increased, the consumers have been
aided. and great many manufacturing establish
monts have been enabled 10 resume work. Under
the combination the manufacture was depressed.
Consumers were fleeced and therefore were forced
to restrict purchases. But the opposite policy has
already caused general revival of manufacture,
and the consumption is now steadily approaching
the producing capacity of the mines. In that way
only can the existing difficulties in the coal bus-
ness be remedied-by encouragement OF Increased
consumption.
Some of the companies have increased far more
than others in their deliveries and 1t is evident
that they were unnaturally and arbitrarily retarded
by the combination for the benefit of others The
Central of New-Jersey has gained relatively more
than any other company its deliveries having been
I.2S53lO tons, against CPS, $50 last year, an in-
crease of over 100 per cent. 1t is significant
that the next company point of increase has been
the Reading whose deliveries have been 2,257, SOC
tons. against 1,177 7l0 last year, gain of nearly
100 per cent These are the two companies which,
by the new lease of the Delaware and Bound Brook
route by the Reading, have become close
allies. The coal movement on the jersey
Central will be greatly increased, and the Reading
will be enabled to save about 30 cents per ton
1000. 600 to 100000 tons of coal destined for
the New-York market 1t seems hardly possible
that under those circumstances. proposal to renew
the combination should meet with any favor from
the two companies which gain most from ITS over
throw and which are now prepared, by new alli-
ance to compete with others more vigorously than
ever.