The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-18
COAL OPERATORS
AUGUST LETTER
Criticizes the Coal Carrying Com
panies for Lack of Foresight.
Lackawanna Commended.

The following is the text of the Au-
gust letter of the Industrial Coal OPP
orators asssociation:
1.-THE month has shown no change
in the anthracite situation. Besides
the usual midsummer dullness and
disinclination to labor during the
heated term, the individual operators
and each of the anthracite transport
ing interests are waiting for the de-
cision of the appellate court regard
ing the Delaware Valley and Kingston
railroad. Until this is announced, no
definite steps one way or another may
be expected. In the meantime, how
ever, the Erie and wyoming Valley
railroad is actively at work enlarging
its terminals and making other neces-
sary preparations to handle the in
creased tonnage which it will even
tually receive.
The anthracite transporting COM
panies do not appear to be able to
realize the part they are playing in
the history of this industry. If they
had the gift of introspection; II they
could use that esoteric power which Is
now exercised on details of their COM
petitors' tonnage, and place themselves
N"EhNy vi SNSu lCU years IGIlCC anu
look back over what has been done,
they might be able to see the unut-
terable puerility which has charac-
terized their conduct for several years
past. To say that they have not and
do not realize the gravity of the situa-
tion or that their futile efforts to bet
ter 1t were not based upon some plan
which they understood, would be to
imply feeble minds. But that they did
not carry out such plans proves con-
clusively either their mental inability
to grasp the true Importance of the
situation, or that, feeling intrenched
behind comfortable salaries, they had
not the desire to add further labors
of thought and action to their pres
ent duties.
"To the outsider 1t Is incredible that
the large financial interests behind
these railroads should have permitted
them to be conducted in such man.
ner. Not long since, a change was
made in the management of one inter-
est. From that time not only has II
shown better earnings, but has COM
pletely reversed the procedure Of other
anthracite transporters by assuring
shippers on it's line of fair treatmen,
and actually cultivating and encour.
aging local industries of all kinds. II
has left the rut. The management
following the precedent Of every vel
managed railroad, is developing new
business and not, as heretofore beer
the case, and as holds with the ma
jority of the other anthracite lines
hiding itself behind the bulwark OF
earnings from anthracite sufficient tc
pay losses incurred in other branches
1.-THE opportunity has been before
the transporters and they have failed
to see it. Now, new conditions have
arisen as a result of their neglect. A
new factor, an Independent transpor.
teT, Is about to enter their field. Theil
control of prices and output will be
lost and those who have rested II
musty security will find that the an.
they have depended, will fail them
Methods which they used will sudden
ly prove obsolete and impossible anC
with the decline in earnings will come
the demand from security holders, a
last impressed, for new methods, new
management, new blood.
"At present the transporters are
resting in fancied security. They i'm
agine that they are too firmly seated
to be moved. But 1t is the same Sc
curity as that which brings peace t
the mind of the ostrich when it's heaC
is hidden in the sand and its great
unsightly body stands high in the air
q mark for ALL"