The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-24
TIlc Coal Trade.

The usual interest felt in the anthracite
coal trade the past week has been absorbed
by the announcement on Thursday of the
sudden and unexpected leasing by the Read
ing Railroad Company of the North Penn
sylvania and Bound Brook Railroad Com
panes. All the companies in this move
ment are more or less directly connected
with the anthracite coal trade. The Read.
North Pennsylvania and of the Bound
Brook, in addition to its already large in
debtedness, occupies a conspicuous and al
most a controlling influence in the trade
and although the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company, second only to the Reading in
magnitude and influence in the coal trade
is not party to the lease, it directly CON
meets with the Ncrth Penn and finds its
direct outlet to the Philadelphia market
over it, and will necessarily be brought more
or less directly in collision with it, and, if
wo. king in sympathy, will naturally in.
crease the influence OF the Reading Railroad
Company and add to the probabilities Of the
success of Mr.. Gowen's peculiar theories
prevailing in the future control of the coal
trade. If the Lehigh Valley, from any
cause, acts in conjunction with the Reading
it concentrates majority of the trade and
presents an important aspect to all the rest
Of the parties engaged III 1t. II the future
action OF the two companies shall be a cross
purposes the situation will be equally i'm
portant in an opposite direction not only to
~ . l.,,t
nies named as well. 1t is not believed how
ever, that there will be any cross action.
The interest of both the Reading and the
Lehigh Valley is to work harmoniously to-
gether, and there is no reason to doubt they
will. 1t is true the direct route of the Le-
high Valleys coal to this market is by way
of the North Penn Road, now in the control
of President Gowen, but it never has been
any part of his policy to drive trade from
the works under his direction, and the profit
Of all possible traffic over the North Penn
will be as desirable and as necessary ia the
hands of its tenants, the Reading, as ever in
the past it was 10 its owners. Besides the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Is not confined to
the North Penn as its only route to the Phil
adelphia market, and cannot be coerced to
its prejudice, was there ever so strong a de-
sire, which we are assured aud know there
is not. All the bearings Of the lease are,
however, by the public widely considered
and the possibilities freely discussed, and
while nearly all concede the movement OF
Mr.. Gowen to be bold one, and by most
persons is believed to be am advantageous
one all around, it will be aided most mate
rally to that end by continuance OF the
! llberality that prompted the enterprise, aud
no one knows this better than Mr.. Guwen
| himself Tho outlook of the coal trade is
| improved from this date forward. All the
/ points in immediate consideration favor an
advance of prices and a more direct and
effective control of the coal market. The
/ Reading Railroad COMPANY has now secured
an all rail line for its great coal product in
/ the immense basin Of the Schuylkill re-
/ gion for all the year round, tt point gained
| Of muct. advantage. This is secured to Il;
I from its heretofore unused facilities for the
Passenger depot in TIE very heart of ouI
| city. This locality of Ninth and Green
streets as a passenger depot for the new
/ New York road is of much value,and under
/ this lease costs literally nothing. The North
| Penn people as well as the Bound Brook
! stockholders have effected an exceptionally
/ good bargain if the lease shall be carried
/ into operation as designed. As announced
| the main object Of the lease is to secure an
! Eastern outlet for coal, the passenger and
/ freight business being an incidental con
sideration, aud may be discussed hereafter
-Ledgey, Monday.