The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-13

This is how the Philadelphia Times
looks at it. THE independent opera
tors of the anthracite coal trade, known
as the Anthracite Coal Operators as
sociation, held very largely attended
meeting in New York The organiza-
tion is new 1t was formed for the pur'
pose of protecting the interests of its
members Its membership constitutes
almost the entire independent interest
Last year indEpondent operators pro-
duced about 10000, 900 tons out Of the
$4,000, 900 tones mined. Heretofore in
dependent operators have always been
considered part of the company over
whose lines they ship. They have al
ways been very aggressive and the
shipping companies have often found
it impossible to prevent them from
overproducing aud cutting prices.
Their organization recognizes that 1t
is better to secure a profit on smaller
tonnage than to put out a large ton
mage with little or no profit With
this as u basis they propose to heartily
cooperate with the shipping compan-
les. Restriction will be the basis OF
their plan. They agree not to produce
more than their proportionate rate.
For example, If the sales agents should
put the trade on go per cent produc
tive basis for the month the indspend-
ent operators would expect to confns
their mining within that limit. While
the independent operators organizA'
tion will cooperate with the compan-
les, it will also look sharply after the
interests Of its members. seeing that
they obtain all they are justly entitled
to in the way of output"
Among those holders of New Eng
land securities who signed petition to
the court asking to have Thomas 9.
Platt made permanent receiver wBs
Russell Sage. The latter has larga
interest in the bonls Of the company
which came into his possession when
be and Jay Gould were actively inter-
ested in the road. 1t is not generally
known that Mr.. Sage continued to
hold these bonds, and the fact that he
does explains the interest shown by
him in Mr.. McLeod's plans for the ex.
tension of the New England system
Much significance is attached to the
fact that Mr.. Sage desires the appoint
ment of Mr.. Platt for permanent re-
oeiver.
Says the Stakeholder: "Thers is no
longer reason to doubt that the rSla-
tions of the Lehigh Valley and Jersey
Central railroads have been seriously
strained, and the breach is likely to be
widened through the present struggle
for business The competition between
the two companies must necessarily be
sharp. with, however, the result as
disastrous to one as to the other. The
! fight for coal traffic is already on, and
indications are that it will continue
ind -6nitely, increasing in severity as
the dull period approaches. Aside
from the fact that the two roads are
natural competitors, the action of the
Jersey Central during the recent
Lehigh Valley strike has intensified the
feeling Of dissatisfaction between the
companies. That this is true is shown
by President Wilburs annual report, in
which he says referring to the transfer
of his roads New York connections
from the Jersey Central to the Penn
sylvania: Daring the strike we
found it impossible to continue to run
our freight trains between Jersey city
and Roselle over the tracks of the Cen
trail Railroad Of New Jersey. That
company first positively declined to
furnish pilots for our trains, and sub
sequently gave us such hesitating and
qualified assurance of aid as to be prac.
,ically of no avail; and although every
effort was made by us to put trains
over their line between the points
named. little could be done owing to
the hostility Of their employees aud the
apparent indifference of their operating
officers"
Statement Of shipments of anthracite
coal approximately for week ended
Jan 6, 1894, compared with the corre-