Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-08-22
BIG DEAL MATURING.
CAPITALISTS PLANNING THE REGULA-
TON OF ANTHRACITE COAL.

Gain Control of Railroads Which Mine nc
Wen as Transport-when Reading Is Re-
organized scope of Combine win he Un-
foided-Great Loss In the Past.
A development of the near future of
the highest importance from a specula
tive standpoint will be the termination
of the Generalization which now exists
in the anthracite coal trade. The trou-
BILE in this trade is not a decreased con-
sumption, but instead an excessive pro-
duction, with a consequent breakdown
in prices.
Had the prices for coal which were
received in the first half of 1894 been
obtained in the first six months Of 1895
the freight revenue would have been
sec, 035, 033, or an increase Of So, 076,-
26G. Hadthe prices which were received
i'll the first half of 1898 been obtained
in 1895 the freight revenue would have
been scr, 6SS, $50, or an increase of ST.,
729, 2S4.
The loss ON coal and freight together
for the first six months of 1895, as COM
pared with the corresponding period in
1894, was s., 500, 600, and the loss as
compared with 1898 was $1l, 823, 2lO.
The first step toward the regulation
Of the anthracite coal trade is to be the
perfection of a plan FOR the ~reorganiza-
tion of the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad, which is the principal produ-
Ger and carrier of coal.
This road is the key to the situation,
and with that knowledge q powerful
combination of capitalists have accu-
INFLATED a majority of its capital stock
and will appear in control of it when
the scheme for the readjustment of its
finances is contaminated.
The capitalists in the combination are
the chief owners of the stocks of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroad, the Central Railroad of New
Jersey and the Delaware and Hudson
Canal company. In addition they have
recently attained dominating influence
in the management of the New York,
Susquehanna and Western railroad.
The undertaking of the capitalists is
a stupendous one, but their resources
are so vast that there can be no question
as to their ability to carry it out.
1t became necessary for them to ac-
quire control of the Reading road and
ITO assume the regulation Of the coal
trade in order to protect their interests
in the New Jersey Central, Lackawanna
and Delaware and Hudson companies.
There is a possibility that they will
secure control of the Lehigh Valley
road, but this is a point on which a de-
cision has not been reached. 1t is known
that the Packer estate is willing to re-
linquish it's holdings of the stock of the
Lehigh Valley, which + sufficient to
afford tho ruling voice in tho affairs Of
the road.
The Lehigh Valley handles the larger
share of the output of the individual
mine owners, and is, therefore, a lead
ing factor in the coal business. Should
the actual possession of the road not be
obtained, arrangements will be made
for its cooperation in the project in
hand.
The coal trade deal has been in prog
ress for a long time. 1t is a thing that
required months Of negotiation and
work, but it is at last approaching con-
clusion. It's details will be made public
when the programme for the rehabilita-
ton of the Reading road is ready for
announcement, and in this matter there
is no reason for much further delay
New York Journal.