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 with view to
terminating the strike. AS is admitted this
was to raise wages 10 per cent. but to ignore
the union and to refuse to recognize in any
way John Mitchell 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 was that the
third party either Cardinal Gibbons or
Archbishop Ryan, who have been talked Of as
possible arbitrators of the dispute. From a
source however. which may be regarded as au-
thoritative. it learned that the interven-
ton negotiations have been placed In the
of John Markle.
After the meeting held in ]. Pierpont Nor
gans office on Thursday. Mr.. Markle was sum-
moned to this city. Upon his arrival he went
to the offices of the principal coal railroads and
conferred with their representatives He was
occupied in this way Friday morning, ana
in the afternoon, it is understood, he met some
of the principal operators. Shortly before
o'clock Mr.. Markle called upon Alfred Walter
president of the Lehigh Valley company, and
while there expressed his willingness it is
understood, to give out statement for publica-
ton. But as he hurried to catch train for
Jeddo be 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, ana
tends to strengthen the belief which prevails
in the trade that Mr.. Markle will 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-
cihcally deny 1t, 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. Morgans office,
the rates for coal free board" took a sud
den tumble of from 80 to 10 cents a ton. Instead
Of the So which had hitherto been demanded for
coal by the operators, cargoes were offered at
SIS % and So so Yesterday prices 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 ton in two days demonstrated clearly
the belief of the operators that there will be no
further stringency in supplies. Another pointer
to 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 pound of coal even at
the prevailing figure Of So 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 a week.
But while the resumption Of work at the mines
will bring about easy conditions in the wholesale
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-
sumner and that householders will be charged
prices for coal ranging around so ton no mat
ter how soon the strike is declared off, The
reasons which the retailers put forth to justify
this unwarranted attitude is that for the last
two wears they have been obliged to sell coal
to their customers at prices that netted them
profits Of about 25 cents 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 TO keep up the price OF
coal to 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-president 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. 1t 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 should find
him wanting to control the companies. AS un
derstand it, the way the miners Will be treated
with will be to delegate the man in charge OF
the men at each of the collierieS to 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
collieries will be opened one by one as the men
return to 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 to inquiries to
the terms which would be offered by the oper-
ators to the strikers, said
In the discussion of this matter a condition
that seems to have been entirely overlooked by
the newspapers is that each mine must be
treated individually. Each colliery has some
speciaI characteristic which would prevent the
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 come there will now
be brisk demand for miners. 1t 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 to get sufficient miners
to run their collieries. But. as I have said in
reaching settlement varying conditions in the
different mines will have to be taken into con-
sideration. For instance. mine is known as
being q wet mine, another will be what is termed
a gassy mine. while a third will have a bad