The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-21
NINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.

Probably the most unique view yet
taken Of the existing coal trade war;
is the following one from the Philadel-
phia Stakeholder, which requires no
comment:
Opinion prevails among the larger COM
panies that individual operators, who are
being led by Coke Bros. & Co., into at
tempted Generalization of the coal trade,
will be the real sufferers and 1t is hinted
that some of these operators, particularly
Coke Bros. G. Co., have an object in break
ing the market other than that which ap-
pears on the surface. 1t is, in brief, an
attempt to force the larger companies
into purchasing their properties at high
price, and thus enable them to quit the
business. This, it is asserted, is the real
significance of the recent cut in prices by
Coke Bros & Co. 1t has been already re-
ported that there Is a probability that the
Jersey Central may secure control of the
firms line of railroad, known as the Del
aware, Susquehanna and Schuylkill and,
in addition, lease or purchase its coal
properties; and II Is intimated also that
the Pennsylvania railroad may do exactly
the same thing to strengthen its position
in the anthracite coal trade. There is,
however, one objection to be offered
bNlS lutOlys IL II 10 u lllCOt
namely, the agreement existing between
the Lehigh Valley Railroad company and
Coke Bros. & Co. 1t provides that all the
coal shipped by the firm to tidewater shall
be over the Lehigh Valley for period
of fifteen years from July |, 1894, and
that the firm, during that time, shall not
use, or seek to use. any other outlet to
tidewater. Should the Jersey Central or
the Pennsylvania secure control of Coke
Bros. t& Co.'s property, therefore, 1t
would not affect the agreement, and the
product of the mines, consigned to tide
water would still have TO be over the Lee
high Valley. Whether in view of this,
the Jersey Central and the Pennsylvania
will be deferred from making the pur-
chase remains to be seen; but 1t is be-
lieved that the trade would be greatly
benefited by the property falling into The
Pennsylvania's hands. 1t would make the
company such factor in the trade that
1t would probably abandon its free
lance" proclivities and aid the other com
panies In keeping the market in good
shape, while, at the same time 1t would
remove disturbing factor from the trade
the firm of Coke Bros. &c Co. That these
shippers have been disturbing element
does not admit of doubt; last weeks cut
is evidence of this. The whole situation,
as can be seen from the above. is inter-
esting, and before matters are straight
ened important developments are likely.
Both Coke Bros. & Co. and Stickney
6, Conyngham, representing the Penn
sylvinia railroad, deny that they have
made new cut of 40 cents per ton in
the price of coal The Lehigh Valley
Coal company also denies that ii has
made any cut in coal prices, but says it
proposes to take care Of its trade. Coke
Bros. & Co. deny the story current that
the Delaware, Susquehanna & Shuyl-
kill railroad, owned by them, was to be
leased by the Jersey Central and that
an inventory of the stock of the road
had already been taken by that COM
pany. This was further corroborated
by the Lehigh Valley officials, who put
in evidence the traffic agreement made
between the two companies on July /
last, under the terms of which the Della
ware, Susquehanna & Schuylkill is
bound for term of fifteen years neither
to seek nor make an outlet for their coal
tonnage other than over the lines Of the
Lehigh Valley.
The Philadelphia Inquirer says the
action of the Lackawanna road in the
near future is awaited with apprehen-
sion, for all indications point to the
probable unloading of large quantity
of coal upon the tidewater market by
that company next month. At present
it is shipping its coal west, but with
the close of lake navigation it may in
wade the east, as indeed its officers
threaten.
company will drive tunnel from No.
Honey Brook slope east toward the
Yorktown workings, the object being
to discover, if possible, what seam Of
coal is back of the Buck Mountain, or
which underlies, If there be any at all.
Opinions vary as to the prospects of Il
vein lying alongside or beneath the
Buck Mountain, and If it is situated in
the latter place it must be of great
depth. Contractor Thomas Hughes
will put a force of men to work this
week to drive the proposed tunnel.
The advisability Of an advance in
rates of freight on pig iron has been
discussed by trunk line officials The
present rates are on the basis of 81 per
ton from New York to Chicago, while
the usual charge Is So per ton. In May
last with eighty-one furnaces in blast
the stock Of pig iron on hand in this
country was 100000 tons. AT this time
there is an increase of over 100 per cent
in the number of furnaces in blast and
the stock on hand has fallen to approx
imately 100000 tons. In view of the ap-
parent increase in the consumption and
the necessities of railroads to improve
their earnings, some officials have ex-
pressed the belief that this is the proper
time for a restoration Of the old rates
on pig iron.