The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-16
NINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.


The meaning of the sudden resigna-
ton of Eckley B. Coke from the presi-
dency of the Delaware, Susquehanna
and Schuylkill Railroad company, the
Coke Bros Iron Foundry and Manufac-
turing company and the Cross Creek
Coal, company is thus explained In
Hazleton dispatch: 1T is known that
he had been for some time endeavoring
to shape these vast interests so that
proper division could be made in the
event of accident or death. The duties
devolving upon him have been tremen-
dous, and together with increasing en-
terprises he has been burdened and to
a degree hampered so that he was un-
able to carry out some plans as orig
inally contemplated. The constant
spreading out of the Delaware, Susque-
hanna and Schuylkill road has also de-
manded more attention than circum-
stances would permit him to give. To
enable him to carry out the plans and
place his road among the strong
est coalers of the state 1t is
said that this step was taken.
Alfred Waters, general manager
of the Erie and New York railroad,
has been appointed to succeed Mr.. Coke
as president. He will assume charge
Dec. /. Mr.. Waters is practical rail-
road man. The Delaware, Susque-
hanna and Schuylkill people have for
months been busy making surveys and
securing the contour of the country
between Drifton and Stroudsburg.
While no official announcement Of the
intentions of the company in this re-
spect has been made, it is understood
that they will connect at Stroudsburg
with the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western, thus giving them direct line
to the coast. AS it is at present they
practically control the coal tonnage of
the Lehigh region, and with such ad-
ditional resources as this connection
would give them it would place the road
among the most important entering the
anthracite region"
Some one in the Philadelphia Bulletin
thus exhibits his knowledge of anthra-
cite mining: 1.-The greater economy in
the use of coal, and the fact that coal
dust is valuable as fuel, have brought
on a contention over the ownership Of
the piles of culm or waste coal which
have collected in the neighborhood Of
the anthracite mines Of the state. AS
this waste represents the coal for
which the miners were not paid their
wages being reduced in direct propor-
tion to the amount Of such waste dis
covered in their share of the daily
mined article, it certainly seems that
morally it belongs to them. But the
ownership of it from a strictly legal
standpoint is another thing, and 1t is
gard the matter. The contention is an
other instance Of the multiplying diff
culties arising from the low rate of
wages paid the miners and the bitter
ness felt over the introduction of great
hordes of ignorant foreign labor in the
mines, and it is not likely to be settled
amicably, for it involves a good deal of
money. The only square way to deal
with the subject, in the future, Is for
the mine owners to pay the miners a
fair rate for the labor of mining the
culm and then to dispose of it them
selves to the best advantage they can.
1t certainly is unfair to refuse both pay
and all share of ownership to the men
who practically produce the article in
marketable shape. OF course, in re-
gard to the culm already accumulated,
1t will be difficult to settle with the
men now working, as the actual produ-
GERS of the waste coal are for the most
part dead or have left the region" 2
A recent decision rendered by the
supreme court of this state is of con-
siderable Importance to railroads The
capital stock of the Delaware, Susque-
hanna and Schuylkill railroad was val
ued for taxation at $2,OOOOOO. The COM
pany had declared dividend of 40 per
cent. upon 81 100000 of capital stock and
made net earnings for the year of $685.
243. The commonwealth maintained
that the valuation should be $4,000, 600
and that the worth of the franchise
should be taken into consideration. The
supreme court has just upheld the state
in its view, and other railroads in this
state will have to conform to the deci-
sion.
1t is expected that the Tresckow coal
washery, at present the property Of the
Conlack Coal company will change
hands on Dec. l. A number of Wilkes.
Barre capitalists have been viewing
Washery sites and determining the per.
centage of coal in some of the slate
banks at the Yorktown and TresckoW
collieries. The Conlack washery was
thoroughly inspected, every piece OF
machinery being examined. A vel
founded rumor is that this party has
made satisfactory offer for the pur.
chase of the plant and the sale may bt
closed within a few days or not later
than Dec. l. This washery has beer
idle for almost year. If bought Il
will be again started.
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NOTES:
What are known as commodity rate!
in Central traffic territory will not bt
advanced until January, 1895.
The new Buffalo and Susquehanni
railroad opens up vast tract of valu
able timber land in Potter county.
For the first time in eighteen month,
every freight locomotive and freigh
crew on the Michigan Central are il
service.
The Ontario and Western statemen
for the Sept. 80 quarter, shows a sur
plus, after charges. Of $l6S,716, de
crease of $26l.51.
The Indiana Car-service association
in October handled 2l,739 loaded cars
the largest business Of any month o
the present year.
Mayor Connell on Monday went t,
Shamokin to inspect the Enterprls
Coal companys workings, of which h