The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-08-24

organized Scope of Combine Will BE I'm
folded-Great Loss In tho Past. ST
A development Of the near future Of
the highest Importance from a specula
tive standpoint will DO the termination
of the decentralization which now exists
in the anthracite coal trade. Tho trou-
bic in this trade is not q decreased con-
sumption, but instead an excessive pro-
duction, with a consequent breakdown
in, prices.
Had the prices for coal which were
received i'll the first half Of 1894 been
obtained in the first six months of 1895
the freight revenue would have been
$2G, OBS, 033, or an increase of s., 076,-
2GG. Hadtho prices which were received
Ill the first half Of 1893 been obtained
in 1895 tho freight evenuc would have
been $27, GS8, 050, or an increase OF 3d.
729, 1881.
The loss on coal and freight together
for the first six months of 1895, as COM
pared with the corresponding period in
1894, was 81, 600, G65, and the loss as
compared with 1893 was $11, 1921
The first step toward the regulation
Of the anthracite coal trade is to be the
perfection Of q plan for the reorganiza-
ton of the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad, which is the principal produ-
Ger and carrier of coal.
This road is the key to the situation,
md with that knowledge n powerful
combination of capitalists have acca-
INFLATED n majority Of its capital stock
and will appear i'll control OF it when
tia scheme for the REIMBURSEMENT Of its
i,,anccs is consummated.
The capitalists III the combination are
thu chief Of tho 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,
Susquchanna and Western railroad.
Tho undertaking of the capitalists is
u %stupendous one, but their resources
arc 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
to assume tho regulation Of the coal
trade i'll 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 u point OH which a de-
cision has not been reached. 1t is known
that tho Packer estate is willing to re-
linquish it's holdings Of tho stock of tho
Lehish Valley. which a!yo sufficient to
afford tho ruling voice in the affairs Of
the road.
Tho Lehigh Valley handles tho 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
fol. it's cooperation in the project in
hand.
Tho coal trade deal has been in prog
ross for IL long time. 1t is Il thing that
required months of negotiation and
work, but it is at last approaching con-
clusion. Its details will DO made public
when tho programme for the rehabilita-
ton of tho Reading road is ready for
announcement, and in this matter there
is no reason for much further delay
New York journal.