The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-05-11
EQUALITY FOR COAL CONSUMERS.

tnHadetphta Times, ApFft ZEN.
Several OF the New York journals ex-
habit little regard for the equity that
should be accorded to all coal consumers,
when they complain of the advance Ia the
price OF anthracite coal in the various
markets outside Pennsylvania. For years
past the people of New York city, and 10
all the manufacturing centers throughout
that State as far West as Buffalo, have
purchased their anthracite coal almost un-
ifeTmly at price not exceeding the cost
of the same coal to manufacturers and
other consumers In Pennsylvania, and 1t
has not been uncommon, because of the
sharp competition between transportation
lines for our anthracite coal to be deliver
ed to consumers In Boston and as far
West as Chicago, at about the same prices
paid In Pennsylvania. Thus Pennsyl-
vania has been the pack horse to save our
coal transportation lines from bankruptcy,
while New England, New York and West
ern consumers of anthracite coal have
rarely paid more than its actual cost, and
at times have received it even less than
the prime cost of mining and transport
ing.
Suppose New York had been fortunate
enough to posses the only great anthracite
coal field OF the world, does any one sup
pose for moment that the people OF
Pennsylvania, or of New England, or
of the West would have been permitted TO
purchase this coal as cheaply as supplied
to manufacturers and other consumers of
New York State9 Any other State than
Pennsylvania with such an exclusive and
boundless treasure, would have made the
whole continent pay tribute 10 IL: but
Pennsylvania has gone on blindly fol
years and years In cut-throat competition
between her transportation lines; Pennsyl.
vania manufacturers and consumers have
paid the only profit that our coal produc.
ers and transporters have realized, and In
some instances distant consumers have re.
ceived our anthracite coal less than actual
cost.
This insane policy has been stopped by
what is commonly called the anthracite
coal combine, and 1t is stopped indefinite
ly. Whether the method by which the
the anthracite coal lines have been united
shall be sustained as legal or illegal, the
supreme necessities o ( the case, and the
immense interests involved, will maintain
unity of action on the part of these lines
regardless OF leases. While 1t is not likely
that the leases will fail for the want OF
legal warrant, even If they were swept
away, the interests at stake are vastly
stronger than all sanctities of formal con-
tract; and it is only question Of time in
tie near future when every railroad in the
country will be compelled 10 conform TO
bo otu IF fIra nif IN al
bine.
What the New York papers complain
Of Is that they can no longer obtain
anthracite coal cheaper than the peo-
pie who live In the anthracite coal re-
gion. Because the insane competition Of
railroads has enabled New York and other
distant points to obtain Pennsylvania coal
in fearful discrimination against Pennsyl-
vania manufacturers and consumers, they
declare that this injustice must continue
indefinitely. On this point New York
journals should speedily revise their atti-
tude and give some reasonable considera-
ton to the equities which have been denied
to Pennsylvania for years, but which can
not be longer denied to her people.
In short the people of Boston and New
York, of Buffalo and Chicago, must hence
forth pay for their anthracite coal an in
creased cost that reasonably compensates
for the difference in distance and transport
tation, and the sooner they appreciate this
fact the better it will be for them. 1t is sim.
ply common, even-handed Justice, and with
or without leases combining our anthracite
lines, the absolute necessities of investors,
industrial people and trade demand the
unity of action that has been attained by
the anthracite coal lines of Pennsylvania.