The Wilmingtonian., 1886-11-13
Senator Gray and the Poor.


| pany depends as The Senator from Delaware
| to protect their interests in this State-Mr
| Gray has it in his power to advise som'
slight reduction in the excessive price o
coal.
| To use the words of cotemporary g.
"The winter is at our doors. Jack Frost
has already made us flying visit, and soor
| he will write his name on the window panes
Unless there is coal in the CRATE the chill
dren in hundreds of lowly homes will freeze
and young men will seek the warmth of the
saloon. The want of fuel for four months
III the year will drive women to despair and
men to crime. If the laborer who earns hit
dollar day is compelled TO pay at the rate
Il six or seven dollars a ton for coal, be-
cause be buys it in small quantities, who is
at faultP
"The coal companies consist of mer
already rich, but anxious to be richer. They
have raised the price of coal by combining
for that purpose. By the spring they will
each be able to build new house out ol
their profits. but by the spring there will be
good many funerals because wages are
low and coal is dear. That's the wholt
story, and an infamous story it is"
Have we not right to ask this of Senator
GrayP Are we not his constituents Sure-
ly he recognizes that some consideration is
due the legions of the poor equally with the
rich Company referred to.
1t is futile to assert that our Senator has
uot strong influence with the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
Cannot he accomplish for Delaware in a
measure what that noble citizen of Pennsyi-
vania, Governor Patterson, has doue for his
State. Senator Gray's mora. influence in
standing shoulder to shoulder with the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania would effect q great
deal. The latter's action cansed the coal
barons to decide not to put an extra squeeze
on the poor mans pocket by marking up the
coal figures.
1t is idle to say that Senator Gray has no
jurisdiction over Pennsylvania coal corpora
tions aud that therefore he cannot help the
poor of Wilmington. That is mere trlfiing
with inner facts. Our Senator's inter-rela-
tions with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany's coal interests are such that the coal
barons at their regular meetings when call
ing for information hear the reply 'Dela-
ware is safe, there is no fear of being assail-
ed from that little State, Senator Gray is our
attorney"
The poor of Wilmington, who can buy
their coal only by the bucket, pay at the
rate of So per ton for what can be placed in
Wilmington for $3.50, allowing the Penn
sylvania Company good profit
For verification of this statement the
reader is referred to figures appended show
ing what it costs to distribute coal at retail
in New York City from the Pennsylvania
mines, as against what is charged.
There is no salvation for the poor and OBJ
scure if those who hold high and eminent
position of public trust persistently refuse tc
recognize what the moral as well as the
written demands upon them are
Those who attended the recent Democratic
mass meetings at the Academy of Music
will remember with considerable amusement
| Congressman-elect Penington's little JOKE
when he said, to the utter surprise of hit
audience: "Some are accusing me of beinf
the attorney of the Pennsylvania Roac
\ but am not Indignantly"
Senator Gray was upon the platform. Hi
presence added difficulty 20 all assertion tina
nobody believed, but which most of .thos
present saw through as most awkward
effort to take the saddle "of'' the wronl
horse. 1t was altogether too amusing to Sc
the picture of confirmed office holder in
d,gnantly deprecating the possibility of hi
occupying, or caring to occupy, the lucrativ
position of attorney to the biggest corpora
tion in America.
The following is an itemized statement Q
the approximate cost of mining and deliver
ing anthracite coal in New York City. 1t
an abstract from a pamphlet published b
the Anti Monopoly League.
The argument is that it would be prepo'
ferrous to suppose that coal cannot be cal
ried to Wilmington as cheaply as to Me-
York where it can be retailed at 50. 40 wit
a fair profit to all interested.
THE COMPARISON.
Royalty to land owner, 12lc. to s5c.,
say ~. ~ Y
Paid to miner per 1850 lbs, &c.,
: yielding when prepared and placed
on cars, say $500 lbs, or per ton Of
2,240 lbs, say 81
Expense of preparation and placing on
s cars, maintenance of mine, profit of
operator, ETC., say. ... b
, Transportation to tide water, say 1aO
miles, at 70. per ton per mile, say. 8
Lighterage from railroad terminus to
Is New York, say
n Discharging from lighter, say l
:. Total -. 80
Less difference between gross ton e.
240 lbs.) and net ton $4,000 lbs.)
O. say 10 per cent -. ....
g. Balance ,.. 50
IN Carriage
Profit of retail dealer, say. ...
Waste, say