The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-03
GENERAL NEWS !.
Of INDUSTRIES

Cohl agency tnlS AFTERNOON &C O'CLOCK
to form permanent organization OF
railroad coal operators to deal with
questions Of common interest which
arise from time to time Sin the coal
trade. With the abandonment Of the
Slack Coal agency several sswesks ago
there remained no organization Of
operators In this district. The necessity
for permanent organization has been
recognized at all times, but was more
manifest during the big bituminous
strikes. Each year the operators meet
the miners to arrange wage scales, and
at other times 1t is necessary for tho
operators to act In concert to settle the
ever recurring disputes regarding
freight rates and differentials. At
present there is no immediate work be-
tore the association to be formed, but
they may have considerable to talk
about within a short time. One OF
the matters. and the most important
ever brought up, will probably be con-
sidered by the association. 1t refers to
the regulation of the bituminous coal
output to meet the actual necessities of
the markets.
1T is rumored that big scheme is
In contemplation to restrict the bitumi-
nous coal production of the compsti-
tive fields to the demands of the trade.
In the anthracite coal district this is
done successfully. The operators meet
once a month und determine upon the
production for the following month,
from the stock on hand and the market
prospects. BY this combination Of in
terests the anthracite producers are
enabled to conduct their business pro-
titably, and never get into position
where 1t becomes necessary to reduce
the wages Of their miners to keep in
the market, as the bituminous opera
tors, and particularly those Of the
Pittsburg district have bad to
do within the past year. The CON-
petitive field In the bituminous trade
embraces Pennsylvania, Ohio. West
virginia and to some extent Indiana
and Illinois. The plan Of eurtailing
the output to prevent the overstocking
Of the markets was first broached dur.
ing the miners strike, while the opera
tors and miners were holding the
Cleveland convention. Incidental to
the mining rate question, the stoppage
or production whenever necessary was
considered az the best means to main
tain living conditions for both miners
and operators at all times. One of the
primary causes that led to the disturb
ance of the coal trade and eliminated
in the national strike of miners during
May was overproduction. Industries
had suffered from a long siege of de-
preston, while coal production contin-
ued at the normal rate. When it was
found impossible to sell this coal and
realize the cost of production the oper-
ators fell to cutting wages to get few
cents the best OF the other fellow to
catch what little business was going
"This was practiced to such an ex-
tent that the business finally became
improbable to everybody but the con-
sumner and the strike and suspension Of
production were the means Of saving
many bituminous coal producers from
bankruptcy and were gladly welcomed
There is now grave danger of the sams
conditions recurring. At the rate the
United States coal trade has been pro.
crossing 1t will overtake England in
TWO more years and will then be the
leading coal producing nation Of the
world. Saward's annual compilation
OF bituminous coal statistics is author
ity for the statement that coal is
cheaper in the United States at the
minis than anywhere in the world. The
present producing capacity far exceeds
tho demand Of home markets, and with
the difficulty Of finding foreign mar.
kets, no extraordinary effort is needed
to overstock by millions OF tons the
markets open to American coal. The
only way out Of the hole. apparent to
both operator and miner. is in the re-
striction Of production. Wnile the
operators will probably find it i'm
practicable to secure the support Of all
to the project outlined, 1t is thought
the cooperation of sufficient num-
Der Of producers in the competitive
states can be obtained to carry it out
successfully. There exists ancient ami
mostly between the operators of the
several states and within the various
districts but If feasible plan could
be offered, and all are convinced OF the
advantages OF the proposed combina.
tion, the support OF nearly all would
be obtained.
"This matter will probably come up
for consideration in the new association
OF railroad coal shippers in the near
fntnrn (lrVn nj atinOo np -.
have been formed In other states and
are favorable to the plan. All see the
necessity OF such an arrangement con-
Quoted similar 10 the plan of the an
thraeite shippers, but they falter at
the task OF bringing the producers to-
gether. To begin with, other radical
reforms would have to be made, and
indexible conditions made for very
wide territory, with exceedingly di-
verso interest Should the operators
make the effort, however, and fail,
there is a probability that production
will be shut off periodically by the
miners through their national orgQni-
cation. They realizs as we'll as the
operators that unlimited produc-
tion leads to the Generalization
OF prices and wages, and half sea-
son under conditions which enable
them to live dscsntly is better than
whole season during which they starve.
They were so down-trodden last year
that they considered that 1t was better
to starve while striking than starve
while working Under an intelligent
leadership such as the miners now
have and u thorough organization in
the bituminous coal field the plan as
proposed is not entirely out of the
range OF accomplishment. The strike
during spring demonstrated the bene.
iicence of periodical stops. It would
be unnecessary to carry things to an OK.
IRENE and Inconvenience the commerce
of the country, as was done during the
strike, but to carry the suspension to
the point where it becomes necessarr
to readily supply the markets. This i,
the plan contemplated by the miners II
the operators should fail. 1t is not the
purpose to squeeze the coal consuming
public. but to obtain price fairly re :