The evening world., 1894-04-26
HIGH WATER MARK.
/" The Worlds" Cheap Coal Sales
for One Day Are SAG 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 s4N coal tes;iaes to the grow
ing interest which is being taken in
The Worlds tght against the coal COM
t.nAtioa.
The sales yesterday reached 3is tons.
ph!5h is the hieh-VAter mark. bringing
the totA up 10 Azei tons, and largely
Increasing the daily average. This rep
reserts q saving 10 consumers who
have purchased their coal through The
World Of nearly S,5n. The offer holds
good onIy until May !.
!; Is gratifying 10 note that
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 that the larger consumers are
appreciating The Worlds" enterprise
in supplying coal at low prices. and
have Joined the campaign against the
monopolists.
II 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 $3.50 a ton,
although at the same time the cost OF
producing and distributing the commod-
ity has been materially reduced.
When the pool began its operations
AjQ. In the following year. without any
rhyme or reason, the price was put up
to s. a ton. and the record OF succeed
ing years is given as follows; 1ssl ISL :S'iS
lsSi. IS. 1887, $50: 1888. 81: 1889, Sl5: 1890
S. 30; lssl. $50 1872. s5.25; 1893 &c. 1894
SIS: This shows very clearly what the
sets out to keep up. the, price OF coal
and squeeze the public. Up to the pres
ent time no amount Of protest on the
part Of the consumers has had the
monopoiis,s. They have simply bought
up courts and Legislatures, and with
the law on their side have bid defiance
to public sentiment.
Looking at he other side OF the ques-
ton. the cost Of production at the mines,
/, will be seen that the descending
series of values Is even more remarka :
BILE than the ascending scale OF retail
In 1873. the average cost Of anthracite
coal at the mines was S2.5l ton: in 1874
1t was s2.75: 1876, sl.s1; 1916, Sl.35; 1877.
iss S. is aad at iss 71 s st snee lsfS sss. lime ,in.
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 to-day. represents the enormous
lie by the conscienceless coal barons.
The anthracite coal fields are capable
If producing more than 6OOOO.OO0 tons a
year, but they are only being worked
half time, and the output is less than
A., 900 900 tons. 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.
If sixty millions tons Of coal were
mined and sold at lower prices every
miner would be employed the year
round. the public would get its coal at
something like Its actual value, and the
profits to the producers. while they
might not be as great as they now are
in consequence Of the extortion which Is
being practised, would at least be az
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 benefit Of the present
offer OF "The World" to sell coal at A5(
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 al
the domestic sizes OF anthracite now be-
ing sold in New York City. This Is a
most gratifying showing. but there Is nc
reason why the percentage should not
be Increased, IL consumers would care.
fully consider their interests In the mat
ter.