The evening world., 1894-04-26
HIGH WATER MARK.
1.-THE Worlds" Cheap Coal Sales
for One Day Are 346 Tons
Anthracite Barons Count Profits
While Miners Suffer.
Figures Showing Cost of Production
and Selling Price.

The large increase in the sales this
week of $3.50 coal testifes to the grow
ing interest which is being taken in
The Worlds fight against the coal COM
bination.
The sales yesterday reached BAG tons.
which is the high-water mark. bringing
the total up to 1924 tons. and largely
increasing the daily average. This rep
resents a saving to who
have purchased their coal through The
World. Of nearly $500. The offer holds
good only until May /.
1t is gratifying to note that a
large proportion of the orders which
have recently been placed call for coal
In considerable bulk, orders for FIVE and
ten tons or more being numerous. This
indicates hat the larger consumers ore
appreciating THE Worlds" enterprise
in supplying coal at low prices. and
have Joined the campaign against the
monopolists.
1t was in 1879 that the anthracite
combination first began to affect prices
seriously. Since that time the retail
price Of the domestic grades Of coal
has advanced as much as sl.5o a ton.
although at the same time the cost Of
producing ana distributing the COTlIIlOu-
ity has been materially reduced.
When the pool began Its operations
In 1873 the price of coal per ton was
$3.50. In the following year. without any
to IS a ton. and the record of succeed
ing years Is given as follows: 1881. $5.75:
1882. s5.75; 1883, S.; 1884, 5:75; 1885. $50;
$3.50; 1881, $50; 1882, 1925; 1888. S. 1884,
$5.75. This shows very clearly what the
combination can accomplish when It
sets out to keep up. the price of coal
ent time no amount of protest on the
part Of the consumers has had the
slightest effect upon the grasping
UP courts and Legislatures. and with
the law on their side have bid defiance
to public sentiment.
Looking at the other side of the ques-
ton, the cost Of production at the mines,
Ii will be seen that the descending
series of values Is even more remarka-
BILE than the ascending scale Of retail
prices.
In 1873, the average cost Of anthracite
1t was s2.75; 1870. $1S7; 1876, N.35; 1877.
s q, 1875 si.2 IL, ls7s: sl;lt; 1850 ss,t s t,ms
1t has remained at about the same fig
ure. The difference between this price
and S.25, at which coal Is sold in the
market mark ltd to-day; represents ou the e. e nor nous
lie by the conscienceless coal barons.
The anthracite coal fields are capable
If producing more than 60,OOO.OO tons q
year. but they are only being worked
half time. and the output Is less than
As, O00, 900 ions. The suffering and dis
tress among the miners. because of the
lack of employment during the past
year, have been intense. and all because
Of the greed of the great corporations
which, control the entire industry.
II sixty millions tons of coal were
mined and sold at lower prices every
miner would be employed the year
something like its actual value, and the
profits to the producers, while they
might not be as great as they now are
In ECU Of the extortion which Is
being practised, would at least be as
much as could reasonably be expected
to be secured in any legitimate business.
As only three days more remain within
which consumers In this city and Brook
lyn will have the benef of the present
offer OF 1.-THE World" to sell coal at $3.50
a ton, they should come forward with
their orders at once. Remember that
every ton OF coal that Is purchased now
under the conditions offered means a
blow at the combine.
Careful estimates show that THE
WORLD Is now selling IL per cent. OF all
the domestic sizes of anthracite now be-
ing sold in New York City. This Is a
most gratifying showing, but there Is no
reason why the percentage should no
be increased. II consumers would care
fully consider their interests in the mat
ter.