New-York tribune., 1879-09-02

families through whose rooms the chimney reaches
the roof were at dinner il fell with great CRASH.
tearing hole many feet wide in every moor Oh ,lc
building The mass of bTtckwork ana broken
timbers filled up the cellar Every stove VI ootn
houses was buried IN the wreck. but Fortunately no
fires were lighted, and destructive hte WIS
ayerted. No person was injured.
TRYING TO REGULATE PRICES OF COAL
HOW PRESIDENT GowEN's SUGGESTIONS ARE RE-
CEIvED--A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT DICKSON
The recent letter of President Gowen. of the Phia-
delphia and Reading Coal Company. was the sub
ect of general comment yesterday. While the
propositions contained in the letter were regarded
generally by officers of the coal companies as i'm
practicable, the fact that Mr.. Gowen should have
made any proposal to restrict the production OF coal
was greeted as a concession by him. Ohcers OF
leading coal companies declared that the terms pro-
posed by President G0wen cOnld2Ot be accepted by
many Of the New-York companies. If the proposed
restriction could be approved by ALL the division OF
the tonnage on the bases of the business OF the
present year would not be accepted. III was
said that the companies which had followed
conservative course IN placing coal on the market
could not give to others the advantage OF tncir
larger output. Compared with the allotments under
the combination of 1878, the percentages III th's
years business had been increased by the CentIDi
Railroad oi New-Jersey, the Delaware, Lackawahha
and Western Railroad aud the Reading Company
while the others lad lost fraction OK tne business.
The restriction proposed by President Gowen was
temporary only, and II was SAID that some OF the
companies would not consent TO restriction OF Ton
mage that should not be permanent. III Is useless
to predict what the future demand may De, an an
officer of one of the coal companies SAID we VIII
consent TO no restriction that limits thc pro
ductlon TO specified. quantity thst the county country.
may thd nSs eptrs tne Railroad Of Ncw-Jersey to whom
Mr.. Goweu's letter was Addressed said that ne nan
received rae letter Yesterday althonsh ne n" pre-,
vousy read he letter IN the Sunday papers; Jhdse
Lathrop declined to intimate the action THAI his
company might take in regard to the proposal.
A counter-prOpOslt ton was made yesterday by Tie
Delaware and Hudson Canal Ompany, in letter
written by its president to judge Lathiop. ms
letter was regarded generally as a pOhte relec-
tion of President Covers offer. Officers of the
company defended the letter ly saying: If tie
oder of Mr Gowen is genuine. our counter-pIop9Sl-
ton leads the way 10 an easy settlement. we
wish 10 know first how The companies stand IN re-
lId 10 orders for coal before can consent 10 any
arrangement" In his letter. President Dickson
says:
The cause of the decentralization in the trade is
expressed by one word, over-productio1, ana the
remedy by another restriction. IL tins remedy Is
to BE- applied. the cOuTse 10 be pursued Is simple
Saw frankly but emphaically TO the consuming pub
nc that they will be supplied viii all the coal they
waut-tbe more the better-but that II must be at
fairly TemuneratlVc price.
Nothing can be gained by assumptions as ia, what
the market VIII take. or Oy adjusting IN advance
the re- rictions. All that Will he required is dis
tinct and unnstakable notice that the supply Will
be governed by the demand.
From our experience IN the past the problem most
restriction can only be successful by just and far
distribution of tonnage; aud as this is the rock upon
which our plans are likely TO be wrech ed, would
suggest that Commission be agreed upon. COM
posed of dlSnterested representative men having
the confidence of all concerned, whose decision
upon this point shall be final, binding and conclu-
slve.
| fear it will be impossible TO obtain any subStan-
tial advance IN prices long there are unified
orders AT present low rates, and as the consumers
are tired of uumeaning circulars and paper prices.
suggest that If agreement he arrived AT that each
interest shall furnish a certified statement OF the
amount of orders untitled, and that they shall be
adjusted in such manner that each interest shall
have the right dispose of the proper quota of low
priced coal IN order that the customers OF any one
interest shall not be placed at disadvantage with
those of any other; and when all such orders ale
filled, prices should be advanced and made regular
and uniform.
The letter of Mr.. Gowen addressed to you, and
bearing date OF 3Oh ult., contains the germ OF far
aud honorable settlement. but | fear will require
the arbitration clause to insure It's being enter
tanned.
As any temporary arrangement would prove de-
msve. and result IN an early renewal Of the con-
test trust that III agreement il reached IL Will
be such as will only lift the great interests ill.,
volved from the slough in which they now TEST. but
Will place them upon basis oi sure and permanent