The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-30
INDUSTRIAL JOTTINGS.
What the Operators Letter Says
About the Anthracite Coal
Trade-The Local Strike.

The July letter of the Anthracite Coal
Operators association says:
The anthracite situation still shows an even
and unmovcd front. Events during tho past
month have progressed with diGnifcd dclihcra.
ton when they moved at ALL Possibly, the
wish to avoid violent cAcrtion in the presence
of a "hot wave is the rcaSon-and. maybe, an.
other reason is that the companies have entered
into the strenuous struggle, the fierce rush and
heat OF conflict, to prevent anything from
hejng done.
But there are indications that these anthracite
companies are learning something, and that
alone is mighty battle won. 1t has been
doubted indeed, often hotlv disputed. whether
they could learn anything. One argument. sup
ported by almost convincing facts and figures,
that they could not learn more because the
problem seemed more intricate than they could
conveniently mravrl. Another, which was sup.
ported by the opinions of the companies them.
selves. was that they already knew so much that
any additional knowledge Supctfuous
But events have proved both Of thcs arG1i.
mcnts to he based on erroneous grounds. That
there is some reasoning power has been shown
by the preparation of the new contracts and the
purchase of proposed competitor. The latter
was a trihe expensive, especially with the various
side issues, but it indicated a train of thought
which really arrived at decision The re.
action from this effort led 10 some uncertainty
for time, hut there have been occasional sud
den d7cisions-thc purchase of CoilCrcs sup.
plies of cars, signing IT contracts and similar
things, which indicate that the secthinG mass n
energy which eliminated in the purchase of the
| Pennsylvania Coal company has not Set become
fully quicted
But tho companies have vast and TO them,
uncNplorcd field Of practical things which have
yet to he done before they place the anthracite
industry on solid footing. Many, very many
Of the old fashioned notions Of individual dicta.
torship must go And they will have a struggle
to overcome the feeling and practice Of many
| years that the great prohts from transporting
| anthracite coal make it unnecessary TO opcrsre e
with the same energy and broad economy which
have to he prlctiued by railroads depending
upon low freight rates from miscellaneous traf.
| tc. The entire system Of Management needed
radical changes some have Comc-othcrs are
| expected and there are very many more which
must sooner or later he made hut which will he
DELAYED through pulls" influence" personal
prejudice" and other similar things which damn
| management and prevent progressive and broad
| action.
| The companies undoubtedly deserve great
credit for the steps they have already taken IA
insure more stable market, but this is only
| the beginning of what should hc done
| The retail dealers Of New York city have il
seems become imhued With the "community.of
| interests" idea and Joined hands in the main,
| tenance Of prices II is not a combination. oi
| course only an understanding that everybody
| sells for about the same price and that when
| the wholesale market advances ten cents, the
| retail price goes mp twenty-five. Its simple
| to make the consumer pay big prices and Their
20 into Mysteries over the Scandalous conduct Of
the mining companies because they won't sell or
| unlimited credit and do absolutely insist upor
portion Of the profits in the trade. Retailing
under present market conditions, is likely to bc
most profitable business to those on the I'm
| side"