The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-05-14
EQUALITY FOR COAL CONSUMERS.

EQUALITY FOR COAL CONSUMERS.
Several OF the New York journals exhibit lit
te regard for the equity that should be accord
ed TO all coal consumers, when they COM
plain Of the advance In the price Of anthra-
cite coal In the various markets outside Of
Pennsylvania For years past the people OF
New York city and In all the manufacturing
centres throughout that state, as far west as
Buffalo, have purchased their anthracite coal
almost uniformly at price not exceeding the
cost Of the same coal to manufacturers and other
consumers IN Pennsylvania and II has not
been uncommon, because Of the sharp eompeti-
ton between transportation lines, for our an
ihracite coal TO he delivered to consumers IN
Boston and as far west as Chicago, az about the
same prices paid i'm Pennsylvania. Thus Penn
sylyanla has been the pack horse TO save our
coal transportation lines from hankruptcy,While
New ENGLAND. New York and Western cOnsum-
ers of anthracite coal have rarely paid more
than its actual cost, and at times have received
It qt even less than the prime cost OF mining
suppose New York had been fortunate enough
the only anthracite coal field In the world
does any one suppose for moment thal the
people of Pennsylvania, or Of New England, OF
of the West would have been permitted TO pur-
chase this coal as cheaply as supplied to manu-
facturers and other consumers OF New York
state Any other State than Pennsylvania,
with such an exclusive and bOundless treasure,
would have made the whole continent pay trib
ute to it bui Pennsylvania has gone on bllndy
for years and years In cutthrOat competition
between her transportation lines Fennsylya-
ma manufacturers and consumers have paid the
only profit that our coal producers and trans
| pOrters have realized, and in some instances
distant consumers have received our anthra-
cite coal at less than its actual cost.
This insane policy has been stopped by what
| Is commonly called the anthracite coal combine
and II is stopped indefinitely. Whether the
method by which the anthracite coal lines have
/ been united shall be sustained as legal or de-
clared Illegal, the supreme necessities Of the
/ case, aud the immense interests involved, will
maintain unity Of action on the part OF these
/ lines, regardless Of the fOTmality Of leases
While ii Is not likely that the leases viii fail for
/ want of legal warrant, even II they are swept
| than all the sancttles OF formal contract and Il
| Is only a question Of time in the near future
when every railroad in the country Will be com
| PEELED TO conform 10 the exact basis of the an
What the New York papers complain OF IL
/ that they can no longer obtain anthracite coal
cheaper than the people who live In the anthTa-
| cite region Because the insane competition Of
! railroads has enabled New York and other dis
tant points 10 obtain Pennsylvania coal In fear
| tul discrimination against Pennsylvania manu-
| facturers and consumers, they declare that this
| injustice must continue Indefinitely. on this
| point New York Journals should speedily revise
| their attitude and give some reasonable cOnsld-
! GRAFTON to the equities which have been denied
/ to Pennsylvania for years, but which cannot be
| longer denied to her people.
| In short, the people OF Boston and New York,
| of Buffalo and Chicago, must henceforth pay
| Tor their anthracite coal an increased cost that
| reasonably COmDensates for the difference in
| distance and transportation, and the sooner
they appreciate this fact tho better II will be for
| them. II is simply common, even-handed Jus
! ttce, ana with or without leases combining Our
| anthracite lines, lhe absolute necessities Of In
vestOrs, Industrial people and trade demand the
unity of action that has been attained bv the
anthracite coal lines of Pennsylyania.-Ph -Phlladel.
| phia Times.