The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-10

The quarterly letter of the anthraclte
coal operators just issued says eoi'-
cerning the coal business:
Tho wear closed has been an exceptional one ior
ihc anthracite coal trade. The unusual prosperity
in general industrial conditions created more
active demand for the fuel than ever before, ana
this greatly assisted in bringing to satisfactory
conclusion the various differences which had eN-
listed between the individual operators and trans.
porting railroads. The result OF the strong ana
earnest efforts which had been made by tins osso-
citation were to conclude contracts between these
Two which, while not all that was desired, were
more equitable and fair than any hitherto made
by the transporters
Further. the transporting interest, through the
closer intimacy which had been caused by the
necessity for united action to resist the efforts
of the individual operators, had before them i'll
tangible form, the advantages which might result
from maintaining such harmony, anu, Tor It's
f,rthcrance, some of the companies secured rep
resentation in the directorate OF others, ana
mutual, though maybe intangible, understanding
was arrived at regarding the various matters OF
proportonate production and shipments, ana OF
the general schedule of selling prices. In othcr
words, the broad term of community OF inter-
est was applied to cover the harmony oil pur-
pose which was to be followed.
The unusual demand for fuel has made this
policy an easy one to follow. There has peen'
throughout the year, an eager market Tor every
ton produced and consequently shipments by any
interest in excess of its quota were not serious
matter, since they were only to meet the current
demand and could not affect prices. 1t has not,
therefore, been year to test the strength OF
the community of interests plan. This must
wait until the tide OF the demand begins to eob,
for then will come the effort to keep afoat
In the meantime, however, some of the selling
Limo iain n
methods which, il carried as far as is anticipated,
will do much toward maintaining the market
on a substantial basis whatever may occur. The
control of the Lchigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal
company by the Philadelphia and Reading COM
pany; of the New York. SuSquchanna and
Western, and the Pennsylvania Coal company by
the Erie, reduces the principal selling companies,
in CONTROL to the following:
COMPANIES IN CONTROL.
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron com.
pany, Lchgh Valley Coal company, Erie Rail
road company, Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern Railway company, Delaware and Hudson COM
pany, Pennsylvania Railroad Coal companies, New
York, Ontario and Western Railway company,
Coke Brothers and company, Incorporated.
The first three have developed community
or interest" by representation OF each III the
board of the others. The Delaware and Hudson
company no longer be counted an aggressive
factor: the Pennsylvania Railroad companies have
large non-compctitvc line business and have
never taken the initiative in cutting prices at
tidewatcr; Coke Bros. & Co., Inc, have always
stated their position frankly and maintained prices
when possible and the New York. Ontario and
Western, and Delaware, Lackawanna and West
crn will undoubtedly act in harmony with the
general interests of the market. This is all the
more probable since officers of these latter COM
panies, as well as of the first three named, are
in the directorate OF the Temple Iron company,
at the meetings OF which it will be possible TO
outline any policy which it may be thought
desirable to carry forward.
Still further, tending TO assure future har-
mony, numerous of the collieries owned by in
dividual operators have been purchased by the
coal companies controlled by the railroads. and
contracts have been entered into with the ma
jority of the remaining individual operators for
the purchase OF all OF the coal remaining under
ground, or in other words, so long as the collcry
be operated. This places in the hands of the
selling companies already named as nearly as
can be estimated on the production Of 1901,
about ninetyone per cent. of the marketable
output, leaving about nine per cent 10 be han.
died by commission houses and the individual
mining companies
These are conditions which have never before
existed in the anthracite industry and their re-
suits, as shown in the largely increased earnings
of the railroads and their coal mining and sell.
ing companies, are most distinct proof of the
validity Of the arguments of the individual oper.
ators. as expressed in the letter, for regulation
OF the supply to meet the demand stable price
with movable scale to correspond with the
consumption during the spring months, and for
reduction in the expense OF marketing by means
of a general selling agency--in other words, for
the adoption OF businesslike methods in handling
the product.
"GRATITUDE ACCOUNT"
1t is doubtful whether this association will re.
ceive from the railroads the tribute OF thanks to
which it is entitled for bringing about these
changes Probably the railroads, il they cast up
the cost OF not before doing what they have now
done, will charge this against their gratitude
account" and then "iorget' the balance due on
future prospects. They have never been filled
with an active desire to show appreciation and
can readily fall back on the excuse that wreatlls
of laurel leaves are not often given the victor
by the vanquished
The labor situation at the mines has been
without serious disturbance nor is any to be
anticipated in the near future. The union has
been endeayoring to strengthen its organization
with the probable intent OF making future
demands in the spring, 1t is doubtful, however,
il it will take any radical measures since the
majority OF the miners have been earning
high rate OF wages and will not feel inclined TO
support movement which might bring about
period of enforced ideness, with no material re.
suits in the end That is always n certain dis.
satisfied element and il is to this that the argll-
mcnts of the labor leaders appeal. The condition
Of the spring market for anthracite will contrib
ute largely TO deciding what strength the union
will be able to show
The feature of the anthracite market has been
The unusual demand for the fuel which, owing 10
the impossibility OF securing sufficient motive
power cars to move the tonnage, and indeed,
the difficulty in producing much more than was
moved, has kept prices firm at high figure
and with little prospect OF a change until the
demand falls materially The storage and retail
yards in all of the principal markets have been
able to secure and carry less fuel than the supply
for normal years demand Consequently, ii
the present rate OF demand continues the usual
midwinter difficulty in mining and transporting
may create an actual scarcity OF fuel
1t is probable also, that the mining companies
will cndeavor TO fill their storage yards SO soon
as practicable, lin order TO have reserve to meet
any possible emergency which might arise from
labor disputes, and this will in itself prevent
any possibility of overlooking the market until
these questions settled and the spring circular
OF prices has been issued
With a market of this character the prospects
for the current year are exceptionally favorable,
and particularly since the various selling
companies will undoubtedly use their every ef-
fort to avoid offering tonnage in excess OF the
current demand.
d., L. e. w. Board for Today.
The following is the makeup of the
AnI