The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-06-11

and Reading Coal and Iron Company to the
other anthracite companies, requesting a
change in the system of working by giving
up the alternate three days of idleness and
adopting in lieu thereof either of the fol-
lowing plans.
FSrst--That curtailment, when ordered
should not be brought about by total suspen-
sions, but by reduction Of output for given
periods, to a fixed percentage of what has
been produced when running full time so
that during such reduction each company
should have the same fixed proportion of its
actual production during the one consecutive
period of full time work Immediately pre-
ceeding the period Of curtailment.
Second-To let the majority of the trade
determine the number OF idle days, if any,
Tor each month provided that the number
oil idle days in each month shall always he
consecutive ones.
1hird-To stop mining six consecutive
days in June aud six consecutive doys in
July.
The object Of the receivers of the Reading
Coal aud Iron Company was to get rid ofthe
system Of three days working, which, it is
claimed, increases the cost Of mining with.
out reducing the output, and which for the
present year has given to the Reading Rail
road interest only liz per cent of the in
creased production of cool and but 234 per
cent of the total output for the season, in
stead of 2ss per cent heretofore allotted as
its quota and 80 per cent heretofore obtained
during periods of independent working. It
is understood that all the other companies
except the Delaware, ,Lackawanba and West
ern and the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany (the latter of which for the last two
years has declined acting in cooperation
with the other companies) consented 10
change the system of working, and had
signed an agreement adopting the third Of
the above propositions for the months Of
June and July and the second Tor the re
mainder of the season. The Delaware, ,Lask.
awanna and Western Railroad Company,
however, while agreeing to the curtail pro-
ductlon to any extent necessary, or 10 sus-
pend mining for an equal number of days in
each month with the other companies, de-
clined TO suspend production entirely ut any
one time for longer consecutive period than
three days, giving as q reason that as ,the
cars carrying its east bound traffic were sent
westward loaded with anthracite coal the
detention OF the cars for more than three
days at time interfered with the supply for
east bound merchandise and placed it at
serious disadvantage with the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad Company, which, while ac-
cepting the benefit of good prices and good
rates of transportation Of coal, resulting
from the corporation of the other anthra-
cite companies, has refused to curtail pro-
| duction or to suspend mining when others
are idle, and is thus enabled to obtain an
advantage over its rivals by the speedy re-
turn to competitive points of cars loaded
with anthracite for the westward trade. In
order not to place the Delaware ,Lackawanna
and Western Railroad Company at too great
disadvantage with the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, and believing that after the
month OF July there would be- little, if any,
necessity for further curtailment of produc-
ton, the other companies modified their
views TO meet those of Mr.. Sloan, and a
compromise was agreed upon, under which
for June the idle days are to be the 9th, 10th,
and llth and the 23d, Oath and Goth, two
periods of three days each; and for July
there ARE to be bui three days Of idleness,
the 4th, 9TH and 9th. 1t is probable that for
the reniai nder OF the season there will be
but little necessity for curtalment of produc-
ton, as the markets Of the country are very
bare Of coal and the Western demand since
the opening Of lake navigation has become
very great. 1t is certain that the system of
working three days alternately has not ope-
rated fairly to all interests, and it is hoped
that for next year a better plan may be
adopted. fthe Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany would consent to cooperate with the
other anthracite companies il is believed a
most equitable plan can be adopted, fair and
just to all interests and TO the miners and
laborers, and under which the cost of the
production of coal could be decreased, great
ly to the benefit of the consuming public it.
self. correspondence has taken place be-
tween Mr.. F. C. Yarnall, president pro tenn.
of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany, and Mr.. George B. Roberts, president
OF The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, IN
which the latter, while dissenting from
the policy periodic suspensions In general,
expresses his intention and disire to conduct
the anthracite business of his company in
entire harmony with the other companies
engaged in the trade. The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company has hitherto declined to
cooperate. with the trade, but the correspon-
dence above referred 10 makes it clear that
there will be no want of harmony in the
future, and with the determination of all
parties to stand together in the protection ul
their common interests, and the probability
that no further restrictions will be required
the prospect OF the near future is certainly
encouraging. The following is the circular
agreed upon by the Committee ofthe Schuyl-
kill Coal Exchange, directed to the coal ope-
rators of schuylkill county, bearing date
June 3, 1881 "Gentlemen-The anthracite
coal interests have agreed to the stoppage OF
coal mining the following days in June and
July June 9th, 10Th, llth, 2Sd, Gath, 25th
and July 4th, 5th and 9th. To fully carry
out the spirit of the agreement it is essen
tiai that the mining, hosting, preparation
and loading Of coal during those days be
entirely discontinued, and it is earnestly
hoped that the above agreement for suspen-
sion will be carried out by every one in good
faith. Respectfully, VIM II. Johns, John
L. Graef, John Mines, r. Hecksherj Com
mittee schuylkill Coal Exchange.
The total tonnage Of anthracite coal from
all the regions for tho week ending May 2s,
as reported by the several carrying eompan-
les, amounted to 4ls,l5S tons against $780,
O47 tons in the corresponding week last year,
an increase of SO, ,lO6 tons. The total amount
of anthracite mined for the year is 1928, ,lOl
tons, against s,444,s62 tons for the same
period last year, an increase Of l,47s,53s
tons.