Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-11
Wilmington, Thursday, Dec II, 1884

In the Philadelphia Record Of Monday
we And another article on the coal quss.
tiop, which has to deal almost altogether
with the transportation phase. The
sist Of tine news in 1t is that the iron |
interests Of eastern Pennsylvania cannot |
and will mot submit much longer to the |
srssping policy OF the railroads they
will have cheaper coal or they will shut
mp their shops. The Esstern Plg.Iron
Association has called meeting for the
20sh inst. TO see what oan be done. The
association will appeal directly to the
railroad companies for relief and, II II
fails to obtain 1t, will acknowledge frankly
70 them that they are masters Of the
situation and that the shops must be
closed. The iron men will throw
themselves on the mercy Of the railroads
and show them that they must have
ohehper GOAL or they must suspend
operations.
There Ia no tariff question in this. 1t
10 the outcome Of the competition Of the
pig-iron manufacturers Of the Southern
States on the one hand and Of the greed Of
the coal transportation lines on the other.
The railroads. have been squeezing the
goose that lays the golden eggs till the
poor fowl hAJ been nearly choked 70
death. Rvsry ton Of sheet iron turned
out Of the Philadelphia mills, says the
Record, has been paying tax Of % to the
railroad pool; every ton Of bar iron has
paid tax Of 41,50 to the same monopoly.
Az consequence furnaces and rolling
mills throughout the state, that should
have been able to compete with the
whole country, were compelled to stop
and the close Of 1888 saw 104 anthracite
pig-iron furnaces out Of blast, Al pei
cent Of the whole number.
The Reading railroad, now in the hand
Of receivers, has been the heaviest selle
and carrier, and to the Residing receiver
the appeal Of the 'iron men will be par
AculArly directed. They will be asked
TO lower the price Of lump coal at schuyl
kill Haven from % 40 to $1,70, and tn
freight from 81, 20 to 80 cents, making
total reduction Of 81 per ton. It ia be
Isved that ths Reading men are begin
ming to see the fAllAcy Of their selfish an
short-sighted policy, and to understan
that the only way to stimulate deman
and to revive the industries Of th
country is by oheapsning the cost Of fue
1t is also beginning to dawn upon the
that they may in the near future ear
more money by carrying more coal I
lower rates. The Reading reoeive1
have "a iron furnaces along the
own roads, which have bet
closed up by the freszing. o
policy Of high rates. II they were
operation they would consume nearly
million tons Of coal per year for viii
there is now no market, aid they won
furnish supplies to many mills Al
foundries that are now iale. Further,
cheaper coal will put thsse and other
dussries In operation it will give emplc
ment 10 thousands OF idle men 3
thereby enlarge the domestic coal mark
II the Reading company makes bre
In this direction, the other lines will
compelled to follow suit and the Rec
thinks the increased demand for
ohsApsned coal that would follow wor
give market for the stea
output Of all the oolleries which c
DO probably worked, thus avoiding
long. standing necessity for RESTRICT
production which has existed becaV
there were more miners than could 9
employment.