The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-10-02
RAn WAYS CONTROL
The PRICE OF COAL
They Put Prices Up or Down
as Suits Them.
WORST OF M0NOPOllES
Most of the Coal is Sold to the Kali
roads at the Mines.
THE CONDITION IN THE STRIKE RtGlON
The Mine Owners Also Have a Combination t
Control Their Business Though They
Object to Unions Among
Their Miners.
Chicago Record.)

Chicago RecOrd.)
There has been practically no change
in the scale of wages or in the metnocS
of management in the anthracite coal
body admits that the whole system is
awkward and antiquated, and hopes that
the present disturbance may result in
such changes and reforms as will trinG
most of the friction between the opera
tors and their employees, and the Teia-
lions between the operators are by no
means harmonious. There is an opera
tors association, although the members
usually consider it necessary TO deny
it's existence, probably because they fear
their operatives will use the fact as a
justification for joining the United Nine
Workers or some other organization OF
their own. Nevertheless it has its head
quarters at 26 Cortland street New
York, where the name OF the ASSOCIATION
is painted upon the door, and Henry .
Fleming, the secretary, conduct It's cor
reSpOndence upon stationery with the u
tie of the organization and the names OF
the officers engraved thereon. and pub
fishes a monthly bulletin of statistics
and other information. The NOM
bers of the association meet at leas. once
a month to consider such subjects as may
be submitted and as often as necessary.
There is more or less mystery about the
concern, and l have not been able to
obtain a list of the members. but am
informed that it is limited to individual
- -~l c-~~~ or1-t MIN In
the anthracite district and was original
ly organized, as it is now maintained, to
fight the railway companies. The latter
| do not belong to the association. The
officials pretend to know very little
about it, and speak Of it in a contemptu-
Gus manner
The railway companies absolutely con-
troll the coal trade. they regulate prices
and production, and are rapidly securing
ownership Of the mines and undeVeloped
territory. They are|eight in number,
as follows. The Reading, Erie, Ontorio
&Western, Pennsylvania Coal Company,
Delaware & Hudson, Lackawanna & Wes-
tern, Lehigh Valley and Jersey Central.
Although the railroads claim that they
have no pool, or trust, or agreement, or
combination of any kind, they appear to
have an understanding and work togeth-
er with perfect harmony. They share the
traffic in proper proportions and charge
the same rates, which are 40 per cent
of the selling price of their cargoes at
the place of destination. The maximum
haul is $50 miles or Whereabouts. That
is, when coal is selling for s. a ton the
railway company that hauls it $50 miles
gets 50 and the producer gets So. The
producer claims that this is an unfair
and excessive charge but is compelled to
pay it or he cannot get his coal to mar
ket. Therefore, nearly all the producers
sell their coal to the railway companies
at the mouths of the mines and take no
further trouble about it. There are some
exceptions. however. Coke Bros, Whit
ney & Kammerer and j. B. Markle &
Co., three of the largest private opera
tors in the anthracite district, market
their own coal through commission houses
in New York and Philadelphia and make
the best rates they can with the rail
roads.
These firms and other operators who
complain of railway extortion have or
ganized the Delaware Valley & Kingston
Railway Company, of which w. ". S.
Thcrne is president, for the construction
of a line from the anthracite regions
along the bed of the old Delaware and
Hudson canal to the city of Kingston, on
the Hudson River, about thirty miles
south of Albany, whereby hangs a tale.
Some years ago the directors of the
canal company offered their right of way,
including tow path and canal bed, to the
Erie, the Ontario & Western and to 9th
er railroad companies for a nominal
price, but could not induce them to buy
it. A company of coal operators was
then formed, which purchased the prop
erty for a trifie and commenced to lay a
track which should offer them an escape
from the combination and enable then
TO maui cars at much less cost than the
old roads, which nave heavy grades and
sharp curves in the mountains. The ole
railroads appealed to the court for an
injunction, but a few days ago the appli-
cation was denied on the ground that the
| public welfare would be promoted bx
the construction of another line from
the anthracite coal legion to dewat
IL is now expected that the old roads
Will endeavOr to buy up their connect.
tor, but that Will be difficult. as it's pro.
Jectors are operators who are smartins
under the exactions of the old companies
Inc latter are said to nave expended il
legal proceedings more than was pait
by the new company for it's entire RICH,
Oh way, which they could have DOUGH
for a song.
L was informed in Scranton that tn,
ne" company had already made contract,
Tor hauling 5000. 600 Of coal at 80 cents
ton, which is one-half the rate charge,
by the existing lines.
ne price of anthracite coal is fixed h,
inc railroad companies, but | have No
ee enie TO discover how or upon wha
OASIS IL Is done. The luctuations ar
frequent and irregular. for which 49,
seems to be no rational excuse II 49,.
just the same to mine coal one day q
lt does another and the transnorto+;o
charges have not varied for . o,.rto