Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-05
ANOTHER COKE POOL.
Small Producers of the Region Or
ganizing for Protection.
AFRAID OF TRICKS COMBINATION.
Agents of Andrew Carnegie Surveying that
Lake Railroad.
THE P1TH OF THE INDUSTRIAL NEWS

The small coke producers Of the Connells-
vile region are forming a syndicate for
their own protection against the H. G.
Frick and Mcclure companies, who, the
small operators claim, will try to compel
them to sell out their interests, or be forced
out of the market. As has been published,
the Frick Company own and have in course
of erection 8,269 ovens, or over
two-thirds of the competitive ovens
of the entire region. There are now in
the region 13,54O completed ovens; 1,214 of
these are operated by blast furnacemen,
and their product is consumed by the
owners, and does not enter the market.
This makes the actual number of ovens now
in the trade II, ,326. As Mr.. Frick will own
S,269 ovens. and the Mcclure Company con-
troll 1856 ovens, it will be seen that the two
companies have nearly everything in their
possession.
LITTLE FELLOWS SCARED,
The smaller producers have viewed with
alarm the large purchases of the Frick Com
pany, whose apparent object was to control
the whole region. In order to protect the
market number of them decided to form
combination. AS will be seen by the tele-
gram published below only one small in
dividual operator has not gone into the
scheme. 1t is supposed that his reason for
staying out, is on account Of a dicker he is
trying to make with the Frick Com
pany who want to buy him out.
1t is well-known In the region
that negotiations are going on between Mr..
Frick's representatives and W. j. Rainey,
and it is supposed he is the man who is
sticking out. His plant numbers 699 ovens,
and he would be valuable acquisition to
the new combination. A dicker is also 60
ing on between the Frick company and the
Cambria Iron Company, who own $50 ovens,
and who, it is claimed, have stated they
could buy coke cheaper than they could now
make it.
In regard to the new combination, the
following telegram was received last night
from Uniontown:
POOLING THEIR INTERESTS.
The preliminary steps were taken to-day at
Connellsville, and the details settled for the
formation of large coke company. All the
remaining coke PRODUCERS outside the Frick
and Mcclure companies will throw their prop
critics into one large concern, with big capt.
tai and a charter for the company will be ad
vertised next week.
Each owner will take stock in the new COM
pany to the value of his plant, and all the prop.
critics come under one management. Already
the new company has been approached by
number of large furnace owners, who want to
take their product, and also want to advance
the capital to extend some of the plants and
take stock in the new concern.
Only one individual operator is uncertain,
ana he leans toward the project. The small
owners believe that they can only compete
with the two large companies now controlling
the region, by banding together in this way,
and with their 1,500 ovens will be able to get
better transportation and freight rates, than
they could alone The demand for coke ex-
ceeds the supply and it is understood that the
price for October will be 81 so per ton.