Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-05-05
THE COAL TRADE.
The Effects of the Deal Viewed by
Two Prominent Papers.

Reading combination, pictures a rosy
future for all interested in coal. Its
predictions look nice on paper, which is
about as far as they will go. The Ledger,
however, gives good view of the deal
as seen frcm monopolistic standpoint
in the following:
The anthracite coal trade begins its
spring business in better shape than for
many years past. The surplus accumula-
tions of coal in all quarters has been
reduced to minimum, if not disposed
coal is being strictly confined to the
actual market requirements. Prices for
this valuable product have been placed
upon stable basis, and at figures that
will at least give the producing interest
small profit instead of loss. Un-
necessary and unbusinesslike competi-
ton and wasteful production has ceased.
| There is no longer need for the coal ope-
rator to import the pauper labor of
Europe.
The profits from anthracite mining
will hereafter be made not only by
selling the coal at reasonable advance
upon the actual cost of production but by
the use of modern economics in its min
ing and preparation for market. Any
advance in price must be shared by the
colliers, who are paid on sliding scale
| that is based upon the actual selling
price for the coal. The managers of this
great ndustry-anthracite mining and
carrying-promise that hereafter the
| buyer hundreds of miles away from the
mining regions must pay reasonable
price for his coal, and not less price
than the citizens of this State and city,
who for many years have been bearing
the yoke patiently.
| All the coal that can be sold will be
mined. The markets will be fully and
freely supplied with coal, but there will
| be no unnecessary production mined to
accumulate and be stocked at tidewater
and interior points until the surplus is
so great that auction sales must be held
to dispose of the piles of coal at loss.
Larger cars, stronger motive power and
| longer trains are to be used in transport
ing the coal from the breakers to mar
ket, and modern labor saving machinery
| is to be used in loading and discharging
cars and vessels. Double handling of
the coal at stocking and shipping points,
or carrying the coal from the mines far
thest from the point of consumption in
competition with that from the mines
fifty or more miles nearer, and that, too,
over mountainous roads of heavy grade,
| Is 10 De hereafter aVOlQeQ.
Much good material which formerly,
until few years ago, went into culm
banks at the mines is being utilized for
steam purposes, enabling the anthracite
producers to compete more successfully
with bituminous coal, and the culm
banks at various places are being worked
over to reclaim the good fuel. Many of
the expensive selling agencies of the sew
eral companies in the Reading Lehigh
Valley-Jersey Central Alliance have
been merged, thus avoiding the hereto
fore heavy expense of maintaining such
agencies and the resulting costly COM
petition. These are few of the salient
features of the new order of things that
has been brought out of the chaos of the
anthracite business by President Mcleod
and must meet the approval of men OF
sound business judgement, as well as
those where capital has been for years
unproductive of income.
The total amount of anthracite Goa
sent to market for the week endin,
April %, as reported by the severa
carrying companies, was 663, 734 tons
compared with 649, ,976 tons in the cores
ponding week last year, an increase OF
1873 tons. The total amount of an
thracite mined thus far in the year 1S9:
was IL ,260 ,430 tons, compared with TO-,
301, ,566 tons for the same period in 1891
an increase of 95S, 1865 tons.
Here is how that faithful defender Of
the peoples rights, the New York World
looks upon the subject. The World doe
J not have to bow and cringe befor,
monopoly's throne, and its fight agains
the combine since the very beginning ii
in marked contrast to the excuses ano
apologies for the deal given by tn,
Philadelphia papers. The World says
President Mcleod, of the coal con
spiracy, defends the consolidation of tn
coal railroads by plea which h,
perfectly knows to be disingenuous. ii,
points out the fact that the consolidation
of connecting railroads into single line
has been of benefit to the public, ano
argues that the consolidation of the Goa
, roads will be similarly beneficial. Blu
the coal roads are not connecting lines
t They are competing lines, and thei
consolidation, apart from its ilegality, il
, a menace to the public, a menace o.
: wrongs already in part inflicted.
A little while ago Mr.. Mcleod was
impressive in his assurances that there
would be no advance in the price of coal
The advance has already been made
and is to be increased. The conspiracy
was formed to reduce production and
increase price, and it is doing both. II
was intended to cut down the work and
wages of workingmen and to exact al
unearned tribute from all consumers
and it is doing both.
The thing is both lawless and inimical
to the public welfare, but the conspiracy
is SO intrenched in various ways that
tn, re seems no prospects of serious OF
determined resistance anywhere. The
Attorney General of Pennsylvania has
brought one action against it where he
ought to have brought half score. He
has instituted slow chancery proceeding
where he ought to have invoked tht
most summary methods known to the
law. The law officers of New Jerse
have done nothing where they ought tC
have done much.
Worse still, the conspiracy is in flag
rant violation of United States statute
which peremptorily requires the Attor
J ney-General, through his District-Attor
neys, to institute criminal proceedings
against the offenders. But the ATTORNEY
, | General has given no orders and tho