New-York tribune., 1903-01-04
TO SELL IN OPEN MARKET.
Independent Operators to Break Agreements
With Coal Carrying Roads

Many Of the independent anthracite coal op-
orators who have been selling their product
through the coal carrying roads have broken
away from their agreement and are to sell
their coal at the market prices. and It is as
serted that practically all viii take the same
course
These concerns have been selling their product
at 81 ton. paving 81 - a ton for carriage.
At the present condition Of the market they
will be receiving S12 ton. with the same
transportation price The output of these op-
orators is estimated by The Coal Trade Jour
naT' at Il pei! cent OF the total production Of
the country. and the output of the concerns
already selling directly through agents in
the open market is put at 10 per cent If this
movement spreads and takes in all the inde-
pendent operators there will he - per cent of
the anthre cite of the country no longer sold
at TIE low price set by the big companies. And
10 New-York as the most available and surest
market the most Of this independent direct coal
is expected to come
At the office of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company, which deals in more of this inde-
pendent coal than any other company, one OF the
officials OF the road said yesterday:
number Of the independent operators 2 on OUT our
line have requested that we relieve the 6 Ir01 nfn in
the open market. We do not intend TO force mem
About II g psr 'S cent Of q fe doaI We carry comes
these independent operators. and there Is a posi-
market price Instead of the low price at which
selling coal TO the people; .,,,..
much displeased at this refusal OF the independent
operators aid them in keeping prlces Gown 70 . -
n3oderate figure but. Of course are obliged 70
carry their coal Just the same that Of any one
else We shall continue TO sell coal al our pI
price. but il is only human nature TOT tnese lIioe
pendent operators to get as much as they can
Coal bought in the local open market yesteT-
day required immediate cash payment and
anthracite of domestic sizes brought s12 ton
Dealers say that with all independent coal bring
ing speculative prices. a cold snap will mean e1-
orbitant charges TO consumers and pankruptcS
for some retailers One well known dealer said:
Apparently the independent operators have MAGE maGe
Un their minds to take advantage OF the pubic
1es5 md commit themselves to q course OF open
antaeonisn TO the big companies AFTER next Spills
the coal carrying roads can oirecl lnelI III ~
70 crushing their opponents. but now that all tne
coal mined is needed. and needed at once II Io9hs
as If the independent operators Woulo get i'm
before spring.
This year should be a record year in coal
production. say the coal experts of this city.
The mines have been turning out vastly in
creased output since the appointment Oh u
Strike Commission. and. with the big shortage
from last summers ideress TO make up, shouiu
get out the coal in 1908 to make good the de-
Scianc1- The Christmas holidays have set the
oY,era+ors back greatly. One expert estimate
the loss TO the country at three-quarters Oh d
million tons Of coal. The output OF the nllies
on December 26 il is said, was about 10 PC pc.
cent of normal. It increased about 10 per ceht
a dav until New Years came to break lhlnss
M again Yesterday. il IS supposed, " as apou.
the same as the Goth By the middle. or next
week after the Feast of Epiphany mas peen
81 ceTer1ra+ed hv the miners, dealers and oper-
.To-s saw that conditions should become normal
again