The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-11-12
A COAL AYE.

phia Record" that a syndicate repre-
seuting combined capital of SIS, ,000,-
900. and having for it's object the con-
trolling of the entire anthracite produc-
tion of the State is in course of forma-
ton. Several names have been mention
ed in connection with this movement,
among them being Messrs. William Au-
denried, of Philadelphia, Charles Parrish,
of Wilkesbarre, aud Frederick A. Potts,
of New Jersey. The two former have had
an extensive experience in mining an
thracite coal, while Mr.. Potts is inter-
ested in the extension Of the Jersey and
Midland Railroad in Lackawanna coun-
ty, and also to the lands of the Alliance
Coal Company, near Tamaqua. MIR. Au-
denried denies the authenticity of the
statements, while other prominent coal
men in Walnut street assert that they
have heard it from good authority and
know that the formation of such syn
dictate is in earnest contemplation. Presi-
dent Bond, of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad, stated that be has
heard it mentioned, but that no PROPOSE
ton had ever been made TO him by
gentlemen representing such a syndi-
cate, although he is ready at any time
to listen to any proposition that would
benefit the company. John Donaldson,
of the firm Of Donaldson & Thomas, said
that he had heard of such q syndicate for
the last year; at first it proposed to take
all the Readings production, and now 1t
has become more avaricious and wanted
the entire production, He did not think
that it would be possible to accomplish
such result. Another operator said that
the project was one which Mr.. Gowen
had entertained for years. 1t will be
recollected that he offered to take all the
production of the individual operators
and place it for ten cents per ton COM
mission. Tie impracticability of such
a scheme was we'll demonstrated in the
starting of retail yards by MIR. Gowen.
He announced his intention to annibilate
the retail dealers and monopolize all that
trade. and expended millions of dollars;
yet the yards have been abandoned.
The details of the plans of the syndi-
cate have not yet been made known, but
they have been discussed informally. and
it is said that its members can see their
way clear to make an aggregate Of $780,
900 year merely for hauling the coal
The benefit to the producing companies
it is claimed would be in getting rid of
the enormous expense of yards, depots,
wharves, etc., and clerk hire, all of
which are concomitants of coal-selling
companies. All the properties used for
the disposal of the coal would be leased
by the syndicate, the producer getting so
much net profit at the mines. President
Bond said that the undertaking would
be stupendous one, and it would take
considerable money.
"It is big undertaking" said an old
operator, "but did business for years
of over 400, 900 tons, and never actively
employed in it as much as $50, 900. But
I had good credit, and so have ell the
gentlemen whose names / have heard
mentioned in connection with the pro-
posed syndicate. The coal business
he continued, unlike most all others is
a cash business, the longest credits are
not much over thirty days, and tolls can
be paid and settlements made with
comparatively small amount of capital,
If a cargo is lost by bad sale syndi-
cate representing Sl5,000,000 would
hardly feel it."
"There are several reasons, think,
said another operator, 'why it will not
be consummated, and one of these is
that such companies as the Lehigh VAL
ley, the Delaware, Laokswanna and
Western and Pennsylvania are not going
to sacrifice those who have been with
them from the infancy of the trade to
assist others"
the plan was consummated and the indi-
vidual operators would not agree to it,
they we're to be forced in by discrimna-
tions against them in the shipment of
coal. All who were consulted about this
declared that it could not be done, al
though it was the idea proposed by Mr..
Gowen when he engineered seve al COM
binations in the trade. Judge Asa Pack
er, then President of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company, declared that before
he would be guilty of such a trick to
those who had always remained by him
he would break away from the combina-
ton. AS result OF this remark an en-
nifty sprang up between them which had
not healed when Mr., Packer died.
Presidents Sloan and Roberts, several
men in the trade assert, would not allow
the individual operators along their lines
to receive bad treatment; but they did
not think such consideration would en-
ter into any bargain that the Reading
might make, as the company had al
ready squeezed the individuals until not
one left would have money enough To
put up a tombstone over his grave. 9th
er coal men assert that the plan of the
syndicate is one in which the hands OF
both Vanderbilt and Gould can be plain.
ly seen, and as they had both been look.
ing with longing eyes upon the anthra,
cite trade Of this State this would be the
best and easiest way to commence the
work of securing the prize.
Mr.. Gowen has always contended thai
il the coal mined netted him 81 per toI
il was all he could ask from the mines
Some people put the net profit the syn
dictate proposes to guarantee on each tor
at rs cents. This could be done, it il
stated, by making the retail price of Goa
81 per ton, and Increasing the wholesale
price proportionately. The production
for the wear will he abOut 27 600 OOi