Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-04-21
MAY GET THE PENNSY
The Readings Rival is Looking
for an Opening.
RUMORS ARE CURRENT THAT THE
PENNSYLVANIA WILL MAKE
STRONG BID FOR THE PATRONAGE
OF LEHIGH REGION OPERATORS.

udt Iue TeuIlSyiVduld NdilTOdu Yum
pany is not allowing the Reading com,
bination to frighten it into submission
may be seen in the formers recent moves
in the Lehigh region. The Pennsy has
obtained control of the output of the
Milnesville collieries, and while this in
itself is not great deal it indicates that
the Reading Company will have to fight
hard to hold the supremacy it secured
by leasing the Lehigh Valley. The
proprietors of the Milnesvile collieries
are A. s. Van Wickle & Co., of New
York, and the head of this firm, Mr..
Van Wickle, is son-in-law of the late
Ario Pardee. This relationship has been
made the basis of many rumors this
week. several parties claiming that the
Pennsy would soon obtain control of the
Pardees' immense output.
The firms of G. B. Markle & Co. and
the Upper Lehigh Coal Company have
been bitterly opposed to the Reading
deal, and it is stated that the Pennsy
can have the tonnage of both companies
if it will extend its road to these collier
les. Conferences were held on Monday
between representatives of both firms
and President Roberts, of the Pennsyl-
vania, but the result of the meeting has
not been made public. The announce
ment yesterday of the Pennsy's reduc-
tion in coal rates to tide-water from 81 10
to IL. A would seem that the conference
ended favorably to both operators and
the railroad company.
A gentlemen who holds an important
position under Coke Bros. & Co. inform
ed the TRIBUNE that the relations exist
ing between the Drifton operators and
President Mcleod have become terribly
strained within the past two weeks and
are liable to result in an open rupture at
any time. Eckley B. Coke is a man
who cannot rest as the subordinate of
any person, and the present system of
the Reading in dividing cars in such
allotments as to curtail production is
very unsatisfactory to the great operator.
Mr.. Coke built the d. S. & S. for the
sole purpose of giving the collieries such
railroad facilities as would allow them to
work without interruption, and it is safe
to say that there was not an individual
more surprised than Mr.. Coke when the
deal was announced.
General Assistant William A. Patton,
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in speak
ing of the matter said that since the con-
summation of the Reading deal the
Pennsylvania had handled practically
none of the coal from the Lehigh region,
because all of that tonnage, formerly de-
livered to them by the Lehigh Valley,
now goes over the Reading. AS the
Pennsylvania Company has no line di-
rect to the coal breakers, it is without
means of gaining any of the patronage.
But" he added, 1--WE have only to
make few short extensions-practicall
only sidings-in order to reach these
points. Already the line for such an
extension has been surveyed from Tom
hicken through Hazleton to Port Jervis,
N. Y. The owners of collieries will be
glad for us to make the extensions for
il will afford them better facilities for
the delivery of the product of the mines,
as many of their largest customers are
on our lines"
With the three largest mining COM
panies of this vicinity favorably inclined
to the Pennsylvania it is not surprising
that the air should be filled with rumors
that the lines of this company will be
extended here this summer. The build
ing of the proposed extension to Port Jer-
Wis would, according to the last survey
made, enable the company to touch every
colliery on the North Side. 1t would
also, to great extent, open competition
with the Reading system, which has the
whole region now at its mercy. Freeland
can easily find room for another railroad,
and since the popular Lehigh Valley
has been swallowed up by the combine
the town is ready to welcome any other,
but would prefer the Pennsylvania.