New-York tribune., 1900-09-30
TRYING TO BUOY UP COAL.
RETAILERS PLAN TO MAINTAIN PRICES
TO CONSUMERS, ALTHOUGH THE
STRINGENCY is PAST.

OF the operators or representatives OF the coal
carrying railroads. 1t is believed in the coal
trade that the operators decided definitely on
Thursday last upon their course with view to
terminating the strike. AS is now admitted. this
was to raise wages 10 per cent but to ignore
the union and to refuse to recognize in any
way John Mitchell or the organization Of which
he is the head IN taking this position. 1t be-
came necessary that the operators should have
intermediary to treat with the men The
natural belief for the moment that the
third party was either Cardinal Gibbons or
Archbishop Ryan. who have been talked Of as
possible arbitrators Of the dispute. From
source, however. which may be regarded as au-
thoritative it was learned that the interven-
ton negotiations have been placed IN the
care OF John Markle
After the meeting held IN J. Pierpont Nor
gans Office on Thursday Mr.. Markle was sum
moned to this city Upon his arrival he went
10 the Offices Of the principal coal railroads and
conferred with their representatives. He was
occupied in this way Friday morning, and
in the afternoon, It is understood, he met some
OF the principal operators. Shortly before
o'clock Mr. MarkIe called upon Alfred Walter,
president of the Lehigh Valley company, and
while there expressed his willingness, it is
understood, to give out a statement for publica
ton But as he hurried to catch a train for
Jeddo he left the city with the understanding
that he might issue his statement at his home
TO the press to-day. That this communication
would deal with matters bearing upon an early
termination Of the strike Is not doubted and
tends TO strengthen the belief which prevails
in the trade. that Mr.. Markle viii act as media
tor in arranging conditions which the opera
tors are prepared to concede, and which. despite
reports to the contrary. there is reason to hope
the miners Will accept. Although an operator
himself he is on terms Of amity with the great
mass Of the strikers
PRICES SHOW sTRINGENCY AT AN END
More than anything else. more than the at
titude Of the operators who, while hesitating
frankly to state that they have arrived at an
agreement among themselves. will not spe-
cifcally deny it, tending to show the pulse
OF the existing situation are the conditions
which for the last two days have marked
the wholesale trade. On Friday, the day fol-
lowing the conference at Mr.. Morgan's office
the rates for coal free board took sud
den tumble Of from 20 to 70 cents ton. Instead
Of the Sc which had hitherto been demanded for
coal by the operators, cargOes were offered at
S5 % and So 80 Yesterday prices saw another
decided drop, coal being freely offered at So
ton, wholesale. The willingness Of the operators
to release coal at quotations showing decrease
Of 81 a ton in two days demonstrated clearly
the belief OF the operators that there will be no
further stringency in supplies. Another pointer
70 the situation is that the dealers refuse TO buy
at this lower price. The large retailers. who are
thoroughly familiar with the way matters are
tending are not buying a pound OF coal even at
the prevailing figure Of 50 a ton. They are
waiting for the wholesale market to fall to
nearly normal conditions. and this stage they
believe will be reached in less than week
But while the resumption Of work at the mines
in u
market, there is little likelihood that the public
will benefit thereby The retailers make no Sc
cret Of their intention to keep up prices during
the coming winter. They calmly assert that
there will be little reduction in cost to the con-
sumer, and that householders will be charged
prices for coal ranging around S6 ton, no mat
ter how soon the strike is declared off The
reasons which the retailers put forth 10 justify
this unwarranted attitude is that for the last
two years they have been obliged 70 sell coal
TO their customers at prices that netted them
profits Of about 25 cents q ton only. This pro
portion OF profit they assert, is too small, and
they propose TO take advantage Of the exigen-
cies caused by the strike 10 keep up the price Of
coal 70 their customers This squeezing process,
however the customers may feel inclined to de-
feat by transferring their patronage TO other
dealers for instance to retailers IN such nearby
places as Jersey City, where the prices to con-
sumers are lower than those which are quoted
in this city
REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE MITCHELL
H. c. Fahnestock. vice-presldent OF the First
| National Bank and director Of the Central
Railroad of New-Jersey, said yesterday:
The coal men cannot afford TO allow any die
tation from Indianapolis. Whatever settlement
OF the strike is made. il will not be effected
through the miners organization- We are not
! willing to recognize Mr.. Mitchell because II We
did ii would mean that in time We should ind
him wanting TO control the companies. AS IN
derstand it. the way the miners viii be treated
with will be TO delegate the man IN charge Of
| the men at each OF the coIieries 10 confer with
the miners who work under him When settle
| ment Of the strike is reached there will be no
| formal announcement OF the fact made but the
return work So far as know there has
| been no hitch in the negotiations and every
| thing is proceeding smoothly.
EACH MINES CONDITIONS DIFFER
An officer of one of the principal coal carrying
! railroads replying yesterday 10 inquiries 10
the terms which would be offered by the oper-
| ators to the strikers. said:
In the discussion OF this matter a condition
| that seems 10 have been entirely overlooked by
the newspapers is that each mine must be
| treated individually Each cOllieTy has some
speciaI characteristic which would prevent the
| application of scale Of wages TO all mines.
| Generally speaking, however, the big operators
! will fix the wages to be paid to the miners.
| While in normal times there might not be work
| enough for every man who wanted employment
| for a considerable time 10 come there viii now
| be a brisk demand for miners. II IS apparent
| therefore that II the individual operators did
| not follow the lead OF the railroads IN any in
crease that they may put in force those opera
| tors would not be able 10 get sufficient miners
| 10 run their collieries. But. as I have said, in
| reaching settlement varying conditions in the
different mines will have 10 be taken into con-
| sideration- For instance. one mine is known as
| being wet mine another will be what is termed
/ a gassy mine. while a third viii have a bad