New-York tribune., 1900-09-18
READING COMPANY AT WORK.
no SHORTAGE IN COAL SUPPLY EXPECTED For
A MoNTH-wBERE TROUBLE MAY BEGIN.

NO SHORTAGE IN COAL SUPPLY EXPECTED For
A MoNTH-wBERE TROUBLE MAY BEGIN.
Reading Penn. Sept. Il (SpeciaD. Officials of the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company,
which is the largest producer Of coal in the an
thracite regions, 10 not believe that there will be
a scarcity of this article in any part Of the East
sor ct least month. and that the strike is on
and some NJ their collieries in operst ton. no
serious famine is feared Tor much longer period.
The mines have been in full operation for some
weeks and in consequence the shipments have
been heavier in the period than for several
years. The strike has long been anticipated. and
record breaking consignments have been sent to
points as far west s Chicago. The collieries OF
the company which not affected by the strike
are TO work full handed and fun time. and II is
confidently expected that their product Will be
enough to relieve all fears that there will not be
enough to supply the regular market.
The company has fully 100000 tons at Port Rich
mond and nearly equal amount near Schuylkill
Haven where there storage yards with a ca
pacity Of $4,000 In expectation of the trouble
that has arisen the company several weeks ago
withdrew large portion Of its cars used in the
soft coal trade, and these were all used to rush
anthracite 10 market Dealers in all the large and
small cities in the East have been stocking up 10
a unusual degree, and many are now carrying a
larger supply than for the regular mdwinter trade
The company having made advance In rates 1t
is not considered consistent for dealers increase
the price to consumers.
Now that the strike has started, the Reading
company is again giving attention the bitumi-
nous trade. and this week will send one thousand
Of its cars into the West Virginia coal fields IN
order to supply the industries Of Eastern PennsyI-
vania. Soft coal agents say that there is a great
scarcity of for their trade and that in conse-
Quence some of the mine have raised the
price of coal 20 cents a ton. Reports from West
Virginia say that the miners have never eIl1oved
such prosperity. and that are making 81 70 81
day. y -
For the twenty-four hours ending with midnight
last night the Reading company forwarded through
this city no less than twenty-five hundred care of
coal from the Schuylkill regions Each car holds
twenty-six tons There is no coal sdetracked anv-
Where. OF for twenty years have some OF the
companys men earned much money as in the
last two weeks. for which period many drew sos 10
80 AS the company runs no stores. this thev drew
IN cash. and were able to spend It wherever they
pleased. Officials OF the company here ella m that
their men receiving farer eatment than r,e1
anywhere else in anthracite territory and vet there
are tears tlat tne first grave trouble growing ont
Of the strike may break out at the very places
district. " -, 'u' nil
When the strikers in the Lackawanna and wvo-
ming valleys and in the Shamokin and TIaziefon
regions hnd that the running Of the ScLIIvikiii
coiierles is one Of the things that prevents the
operators from coming 70 terms II is exnacteS
to quit This is one Of the features of strikes in
;ne coal country which has always led to the n7ost
eerious trouble and in this instance If strikers
attempt 10 interfere with men who went to work
the result, Il is predicted. will be the same II S
az this crisis that the Sheriff calls out his
generally are the State authorities are then ap-
pealed to for troops. ''