The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-03

sip.
In Washington dispatch Senator
Brice ia quoted as having in caucus in
sisted strenuously on a go cent duty on
coal, but il coal goes on the free list ho
wants to have provision inserted that
1T shall only be admitted free from such
countries as impose no duty on coal
He says If the Canadian duty were ta-
ken off the coal there would be n great.
ly increased market in Ontario for
Ohio coal. Mr. Brice pointed out the
effect that free coal would have on
wages of coal miners in the interior,
He said that Pennsylvania coal is now
displscing that of Ohio in some parts
of his state At Cleveland, Hooking
coal has been supplanted by Pittsburg
coal. Works at Akron. which used to
take from twenty to fifty carloads of
Ohio coal per day are drawing their
supply now from Pennsylvania mines.
One Ohio coal company which used to
ship 200 carloads day to points In
that state, Michigan and Indiana, Is
now sending next to none. The reason
for this loss of Trade is due to the re-
duction in the price Of Pennsylvania
bituminous coal because Pennsylvania
miners have been working for lower
wages for a short time past The
cheaper coal is crowding out the dear
er. This competition can only be met
by reducing wages in OAio.
Mr.. Brice said that would DO exactly
the effect all over the country IL Cana
| da coal were admitted free. 1t would
take away tho market for vast guam
tity of American coal along the sea-
board and would compel reduction of
wages in competing mines. These
mines would then compste with these
farther in the interior which would be
closed up unless they reduced wages
And thus, he said, the thing wonld
reach clear across the continent. 50
that the admission OF Canadian coal
would compel reduction Of wages in
all the American mines. just as n slight
reduction of wages In the Pennsylvania
mines has at once taken away large
amount Of trade from the Ohio mines
and will result in q reduction of wages
there. That again will compel re-
duction In Indiana as already the
PENNSYLVANIA coal il finding increased
sale in Indiana And a reduction in
Indiana will necessarily compel re
duction in Illinois. But this argument
of Mr.. Brice on the subjecs OF coal.
just like the argument o. tue Louisiana
senators on the subiict of sugar, will
apply to every other industry in the
United States,
Says the Philadelphia Stockholders
THE defeat Of the plans of eX-Prtsi-
dent McLeOl was an advantage to the
general coal-consumlng public, but a
very bad thing for miners and produ-
GERS Of anthracite coal. Just prior to
his LEASING tho Jersey Central and Ls-
high Valley roads the coal trade was in
a demoralizsd condition, and prices
were so low that there was little, If any,
profit in the mining of coIl. In Febru
airy, 1891, the average Of prices at
Schuylkill Haven was 81 3lt per ton,
aud year later it had fallen to s! %
Before the end of the next year. that is,
before the eni of February, 1893, the
average price Of coal was advanced to
So 64, an increase over the Dpreceding
year (SJ2l of Al cents per
ton. The miners themselves re-
ceived u portion OF tho benefit
of this advance, while the coal. .Iroduc-
ing companies all made money out of
it The collapse of the combination
then followed, dragging with it the
Reading companies and the prices Of
anthracite coal. In January, 1894, the
average price at Schuylkill II wen was
2 G2 TO- bnt last month it WAS down
to . a. 0-10, q decrease of II $40 cents
a ton over the proceeding month, and a
decrease of lzl0 C,nts as compared
with February, 1893 Ths decrease is
significant. 1t means thar, despite the
Efforts made to sustain prices they are
gradually, yet steadily, working to-
ward lower level Whether or not
they will touch the low prices which
prevailed before tho Reading deal re-
mains to be seen
Forty men are now at work in tie
vicinity of CIrbondale upon the con .
struction of the Carbondale aud Fore I
City Street railway. It will b. COM
pleted by June /. President J. W..
Aitken says that tho closing of the
summer season will soc Car rbondale the
center of one Of the greatest electrical
railway systems in the country. After
reaching Forest City the road builders
will turn at once toward Crystal Lake
and from that point return to Carbon
dale, thus forming great belt line of
railroad. The road will be equipped
( with thirty.seven cars, These are now
being built by the Stephenson company
and are of the latest and hanlsomest
/ pattern, Two Of them will be Of the
parlor car style that may be chartered
I by parties who wish to spend day or
Z evening at the lake. The coming sum
mer will see enormous changes at that
place made under the direction of the
railway company. The plans for the
Improvement OF the spot include the
4; construction Of u kite shaped track.
grounds for base ball. foot ball and
& other sports with convenient grand
Z stand for the accommodation of spscta
q tors. A large pavilion is also to be
erected. The pavilion will be arranged
for dancing purposes. 1t is possible