The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-17
MONSTER COAL COWBINE,
Ohio Railroads aud Mine Operators In
Gigantic Alliance.

COLUMBUS, o., March 16.-After an al
most continuous session of two days an
agreement has been reached between the
Ohio Coal Traffic Association and the
oLera tors, and an alliance has been form
ed which in its gigantic operations Will
be without rival III the whCle country
in the handing of bituminous coal.
2 ne combine Is justified by its pro-
moters on the ground that keen compe-
tit,on had forced prices lower and lower
drove the interests TO seek new fields, cut
the profits of operators to minimum
and menaced the wages of the miner.
The chief aim of the organization seems
to be to reduce the cost of marketing the
Ohio coal output to the lowest price con-
sls tent with good business management.
The mines in Ohio, exclusive of the jack
son field which is not at present consid-
cred in the alliance, have an output OF
100000 tons Il year.
The mines are located on seven rail-
roads-the Columbus. Hooking Valley and
Toledo. Toledo and Ohio Central, Column
bus and Sandusky, Baltimore and Ohio,
Cleveland, Lorain and Wheeling, Wheel
ing and Lake Erie, and Toledo Walhod-
ing Valley and Ohio. These coal carrying
properties are organized into the Ohio
coal IfGHlc ASSOCldli anu tOHlfoi Nlt
output of the richest bituminous field in
the country.
For years this State has supplied Chi
cago and the Northwest, Michigan and
Ohio with large proportion OF their
coal, besides finding market I'm other
States where the superior quality of the
coal for domestic use commanded ready
sale.
A prominent feature OF the new deal
will be to keep Ohio markets practically
for Ohio mines.
The plan as outlined to-day provides
for an executive board, embracing one
representative of the operators from
each of the seven districts. This board
win arrange prices ana the output. The
name of the organization will PROBABLY be
the Ohio Coal Company. and it will
virtually be a clearing house Tor the
seven districts.
It will not be arbitrary In its govern
ing power, as the General Hooking coal
Company will continue as the selling
body for the mines along the Columbus
Hooking Valley and Toledo railroad, and
the Ohio Central Coal Company for the
mines on the Toledo and Ohio Central
railroad.
I'm accordance with a previous confer
ence at New York, the railroad tonnage
or eacn group, DaSen upon the relatNS
capacity of the mines comprising 1t, has
Leen agreed upon, as follows:
Columbus, Hooking Valley and Toledo
| 100000 tons annually; Toledo and oh {
| Central, 100000; Wheeling and Lake
Erie, 100000; Cleveland, Lorain anC
| Wheeling, 100000 Baltimore and Ohio
10000; Columbus, Sandusky ana Hooking
10000; Toledo, Walhodng Valley anc
| Ohio. 10000. The railroads agree that tn
percentage of the tonnage shall CORE
| spond to the figures given. renresentins
| an annual output Of 750OhJ0 tons.
| 1t is learned on good autl. .ority, tina
the greatest opposition to the certra
| selling agency plan was by operator
who had an established reputation fo
their particular brand Of coal. They
did not relish the idea OF losing thei
identity entirely. which was feared il
case the central selling agency was es
| tablished.
! 4 leading operator said that he did no
| think the new arrangement would resul
i'm an increase OF over five cents a ton
| to the consumers.
| The trust will not be, according t
those interested. an Illegal one. IL will
still permit of some competition betweel
the districts, on quality, rather than Of
price. The headquarters of the new or
ganization win undoubtedly be locates
| in Columbus.