Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-05
Senator Sherman's Proposition to
Take the Import Duty Off the
Nova Scotian Article
NOT VERY FAVORABLY REGARDED.
The Product of the Pennsylvania Under
sells That of the Canuck Mines
in lis Own Market, and
SUPPLIES ALL THE GREAT RAILROADS.
New England Manufacturers Just Now Have the
Best Of the Labor Question.

Best Of the Labor Question.
Senator Sherman's proposition to promote
reciprocal commercial relations with Can
ada by arranging to admit Nova Scotia
coal into the New England States free of
duty, is not very fsvorably regarded by coal
operators here, as tour among them by
DISPATCH reporters shows. 1t is supposed
that the desire of the New England manu-
facturers to get duty free, and thus che per
coal is back of the Senator's suggestion,
from belief that the sentiment OF the New
England manufacturers may be reflected in
their Representatives in Congress.
The admission of free coal to the New
England States is a matter which does not
directly concern any large number of opera
tors in this State, but the probability of such
policy being effected is regarded as open
ing up a possibility of the Canadian coal
penetrating to such points as would bring it
into competition with Pennsylvania coal.
AS far as the New England States are con-
eerned, the bulk of tine business is in the
hands of a Jew corporations in this State
and in the Virginias, and it is the business
Of these corporations-as we'll as of the roads
and shipping lines which carry their
product-which would be so affected by the
entrance of free coal In the States men-
toned.
CONTROL THE TRADE.
The bulk of this trade is in the hands Of
the PENNSYLVANIA and WestmoreIand Gas
Coal Companies, which ship high-grade gas
Goals to South Amboy and other Pennsyl-
vania shipping ports. w. L. Scott, who
ships to Locust Point over the Baltimore
and Ohio; the operators in the Clearfeld re-
gion, who ship manu- uiacturing coal to tide
water over the Pennsylvania system, and
the Consolidated mines of Virginia, which
do large trade in the East and Northeast,
in soft coal.
All these companies, as we'll as the min
ing regions in which they operate, would,
according to one view OF the matter, be seri-
ously affected by any scheme which would
curtail the expectation of coal to New En-
gland, and it is to be expected that vigor-
Gus opposition against any such proposition
will ensue from these sources.
Coincident with any diminution in the
shipment of coal BY sea to the North, would
of ice. The ships which convey coal north
ward bring return cargoes of ice, and any
falling off in the tonnage in coal would be
followed by increased ice freights.
Another side Of the question is that pre-
sented by some local operators, who main
tain that since Canada is already compelled
70 depend largely on the States for coal,
owing &c the distance of the Nova Scotia
mines from the Western Provinces, the ad-
mittance of free coal would not counter
balance the rates at which Pennsylvania
coal can be delivered at these points
SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES.
The total sales of Nova Scotia coal to all
the Canadian Provinces and countries is not
more than /, 800, 900 tons annually, and the
amount of the same coal sent into this country
last year was only &c, 900 tons, of which "a, 900
tons were culm. On the other hand, the
States sold Canada last year. 100000 of
both soft and hard coal. 1t is argued that
If the Nova Scotian coal was cheaper or
better than the Pennsylvania coal, the Can
adian railroads would use it, and that the
New England roads would also draw their
supply from that source. And yet, as a
matter of fact though the Canadian Pacific
runs direct from the Nova Scotian mines
across the State O. Maine, the New England
roads use American coal, and the
Grand Trunk contracts every year for
Pennsylvania bituminous coal, drawn from
the regions already indicated. If Nova
Scotian coal is not able to hold its own in its
own territory with American coal, and New
England roads prefer high-priced Pennsyl-
vania coal to the Nova Scotian product at
It's very doors, it is question as to whetherthe
renewal of the duty from that coal will affect,
in any great measure, the present business
conditions of the localities As to the price
of Pennsylvania coal, delivered at New En-
gland ports, owing to the competition of the
producers, this coal is laid down at Boston
and other ports at rates less than Nova Sco-
tian coal can be placed, free of duty.
From these facts it would seem that Penn
svlvania operators need not be apprehensiye
of a removal of the duty from Canadian coal.
But as stated at the outset, these fears exist.
Canadians may find way, with the duty
removed, to push their coal into competition
with the product of this State and operators
here hold to the view that such policy
would result in a restriction of output and a
reduction of prices, as result of severe CON-
petition.
SOME GAIN, MUCH LOSS.
The New England States now take an
coal, and operators who voice the sentiments
here expressed, maintain that the removal
of the duty would be question on the part
of the Government of sacrificing this, and
other coal-producing States, for the purpose
of benefting one or two.
"The gain of the few Northern States"
said Mr.. James J. Steytler yesterday,
would be nothing as compared with the
loss to this and other coaLprodueing States.
mi e 4ha l,,4,- o.
can only benefit a few manufacturers in a
small State, while it would materially in
lure au enormous industry in the coal
regions The New England manufacturers
NAV desire to obtain better footing in COM
peting with others, but, as 1 understand it,
they have this at present, in that, if they
have to pay little more for coal, they have
labor at cheaper rate.
Captain w. w. 0'Neill expressed the
opinion that removal OF the duty on Cana
dian coal would be as the thin edge of the
wedge which would open up tine States to
the product OF the Dominion, to the detri-
ment OF American business.