The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-20
Is CHEAPER COAL ooMING9
Community Benefited by Dtstur
Dances in the Trade.


The "Evening Telegraph of Phiiadel-
phia of last evening has the following
cheering news for consumers of coal:
The people are coming into their own
as a result of the Generalization of the
anthracite coal trade. The recent resolu-
ton adopted by the Individual Coal OPP
orators Associa ton, in which the Lehlsh
Valley Company was called upon to re-
duce the price of coal to the line trade
has been followed by a cut of forty cents
ton in the price to retail dealers IN thls
city on the part of Coke Bros CO.;
and stickney & Conyngham, representing
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
have already followed suit.
The Lehigh Valley is expected to take
similar action, and the Reading Company
will probably be forced by its competi-
tors to also reduce the price to local
dealers. AS a result the tidewater ana
line prices win be equalized the latter
reaching the lowest point in many years,
and the benefit to the consumers OF this
community will be incalculable, as the
retail price must inevitably sustain
similar reduction.
The air was filled with rumors today,
growing ut of the revolt Of the individual
operators against the inequality between
line and tide prices. One report stated
that Coke Brothers had decided to lease
their coal road, the Delaware, Susque-
hanna & Schuylkill, to the Jersey Cent
raj, and despatch from New York said
that negotiations to that end have al
ready been completed.
This is difficult to believe, in view of
the fact that not more than six months
ago a contract was entered into between
the Delaware, Susquehanna G. Schuyl-
kill and the Lehigh Valley, under the
terms of which the former Company IS
neither to seek nor make use OF any out
let for their coal tonnage than the lines
Of the Lehigh Valley. Under the circum-
stances it would not appear that the
Jersey Central would reap any benefit
through leasing a road whose coal traffic
cannot possibly be turned over to any
other line than the Lehigh Valley.
If, however, it is true that negotiations
for the lease have been completed, the
only result will be to secure to the Jer-
sew Central the general merchandise
and passenger business of the Delaware,
Susquehanna & Schuylkill Railroad,
something which does not in any way
concern the Lehigh Valley. The latters
contract applies only to coal tonnage.
which forms by far the greater part of
the Delaware lines business, as it turns
over to the Lehigh Valley for shipment
which arrangement cannot possibly be
disturbed at any time during the next
fifteen years by any lease or contract
whatsoever.
According to a despatch received from
New York this afternoon, the reduction
in the price of coal made by the Coke
firm has been temporarily revoked. The
despatch says:-"At the offices of Coke
Brothers & Co., in this city, it is stated
that the circular making uniform anthra-
cite coal prices at tidewater and to the
do has fa.r lad nd
the reductions will not be put into effect
until Mr.. e. B. Ely, of the firm, has re-
covered his health.
Mr. Ely was seized with an attack of
clan has forbidden his paying any atten-
ton to business for several days.