The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-03
THE ANTHRACITE POOL
Gov. Patterson Requests a
Move Against It.
HIS REASONS FOR MAKING IT.
c-s n the Most Important Steps Yet
TAKEN by the Pennsylvania
state Administration.
The Anthracite Pool.

HARRBBuRG, Penn. October Gov.
a-aor Patterson has addressed a letter
to Attorney General Cassidy, on the
acton Of the Anthracite pool, and re-
opssting him to move aga nst it in
court. In the course Of his letter the
governor says: My attention. has been
directed to the fact that within the past
fortnight, certain corporations char
tered by the commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vsBia. acting in. concert, have ordered
two advances in the prices of anthra-
RE coal It has been ascertained,
upon inquiry. that these corporations
comprise what is known as the An
thraCite Coal Com binatiOn, " which was
crf sted in It's present form at r meeting
Held in New York, on December 3iSt,
124 when there were present Tepresen-
tstives of the Delaware, LRckaWaRna
and Western Railroad Companies. Lee
high Valley Railroad Company, Phila-
dslphia & Reading Railroad Company,
New York, Lake Erie & Western Rail
road Company, Della ware & Hudson
Canal Company PennsylVanla Coal
Con,nany. iehigh Coal g. Navigation
Comnany. At that meeting an agree
ment was entered into. by which six of
these corpOrauonS were in effect pledged
in writing to strict and regulate the
production of coal and to maintain and
TO adVanceits price. An appOrtionment
OF the whole production was then al
Iotted to each company for the year
1885, and on January lst, 1886, g new
allotment went into operation, based
on the annual production of 80 500 900
ions" After referring TO the ad-
Vauces Of so cents per ton in
the price OF coal since July 2 1886,
the governor says: Recently through
Offices Of the syndicate Of capitalists.
there has been a strengthening Of the
anthracite coal CON bination and the
claim is now made by some of its mem
DerS that they can mark up coal at
prices TO any figure they please, thereby
sUbjectng the public 70 their mercy,
GjuTiouSly and unWaFrantabIy taxing
every Preside and imposing upon coal
consumers. The State constitution
declares that no corporate company do
ing business OF common carrier shall
directly or indirectly prosecute or en-
gage in mining or manufacturing arti.
Cies for transportation over its works,
yet al, or nearly all, of the common
carriers represented IN the Ant0ratiCe
Coal Combination are engaged directly
or indirectly in the mining OF coal. By
restricting the production and advauC-
Ing the prices it has crippled vast iron
interests, decreased the demand for
anthracite coal, and IN the reduction of
iron ores, forcing iron furnaces out of
blast, and placing nearly all the in
duStrles of Eastern Pennsylvania at the
mercy OF the managers Of these cOmpa-
MES"
The Governor also called attention TO
the trunk line pool, which he says by
It's arbitrary power, holds q per-
interests Of the country. In closing
biDatIOns, the individual is helpless.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania
created corporations that are members
OF the Anthracite Coal Cont ination
and of the Trunk line pool, vested them
with the right of domain and other
franchises Of a public nature. They
owe certain duties to their creator and
one OF these is to avoid any infringe
ment upon the rights of individuals or
Ine GENERAL WelI-beIng of the State.
tlsIrlntsrterence with the natural cur
rent and condition OF trade has
been in violation of what is
believed to be sound public pol
icy and against the best in
lerests of2 the State. It preiudices the
pubic and Expresses individuals. It Is
nevegSlon OF the purpose FOR which
tney we're created, Those facts which
nave been reported to me and meas
e-Lao!y authenticated. deem of sutfo
EN- iGl portaOce to refer TO you for your
consideration and such action as cir
e0nStanceS may warrant" tits under
S.ooa Attorney General Cassiday will at
IaGe proceed gainst the coal pool, but
10 gaS not yet decided. This is cOnsi6
SaGu one OF the moss important steps
saAeG by the State administ and
was not decided upon until after a very
careful consideration.