Evening star., 1909-04-25

discovered until the last twenty-four
hours. just time enough to give the willy
old operator chance to trim sleepy.
headed handful of traders for small
change and turn the laugh on them.
Many successful deals in grain have
been run. but only very few corners
II is a popularity OF all commodity mar
kets that they are almost invariably DOM
mated by some one overpowering person.
ality. who is, for the time being, the
central figure. The stage and stage set
tings remain the same: the actors change.
and thus the market chronicles are en-
riched by a procession of "Old Hutches,
Armours, Reams. Valentines and Patten
in grain. Sullys and Prices In cotton.
Havemeyers in sugar. Siecikens in COY
fee and on through the list.
The anthracite coal stocks have been
the live things in the stock market for
more than a week. They have moved as
a group. everything in that division act
ing in unison. The tip has wide preNa-
lence that no matter which way the SUI
preme Court decision may be on the
commodity clause. the anthracite coal
situation Is to be fixed up in some way
as to take 1t out OF the field OF specu-
lation and make IL a fixed asset or tho
present owners OF the big railroads. How
that is to keep In subjection the very
large anthracite fields which are stu
held by individuals and estates not now
In the combine. but ready To produce the
minute they can get fair snow on
own or control a very large majority or
the anthracite coal deposits. but there II
enough independent territory to become
an important factor whenever the pres
sure is lifted and free field given TOT
everybody.
The Anthracite Situation.
It is very evident. however. that some
thing is going on which will clarity the
atmosphere and which will. in some way.
satisfy the law and some popular demand
for a removal of railroads from competi-
tion with outside shippers in the handling
of products. This is something which
the public has been lighting for through
a generation or more and which is bound
to come about sooner or later. whether
the railroads are willing or not. Being
wise to the situation and awake 10 the
tendencies of the times, q majority or
the managements are taking the broader
view OF the case and are trying earnestly
to meet what is beginning to look like an
emergency In this forward and progress
sive development Mr.. Baer OF Read
ing Is understood to be q very reluctant
acquiescer. He Is said to be for keeping
up the fight to the last ditch and holding
resolutely to the idea that corporations.
particularly railroad corporations. are
sacred institutions whose theories OF vest
ed rights are superior to law. public
opinion, justice and everything else. He
seems to be In process of being overruled.
Oh. yes, The Supreme Court Is to hand
down that long held-up opinion OH Mon
day.
Mr. HawIey is understood to have in
view the creation of the Chesapeake and
Ohio into a trunk line extending from
Newport News TO Chicago To that end
he has already acquired control OF the
Chicago. Cincinnati and Louisville road.
a line built by Mr.. Bradford, and at one
time taken over by the Pere Marquette
c., H. & D. combination and afterwsrd
cast into the discard. The road went into
the hands of receiver after the panic
and will form a very desirable extension
for Mr.. Hawley. That gentleman is also
said to view with covetousness the line
from Ironton on the Ohio to Toledo.
which he can very easily connect up
with a short distance from Huntington
and then connect with a little streak OF
road with Mr.. Bradfords line. That
would give him trunk line from Lake
Michigan to the Atlantic or distance
of 975 miles or just about the same dis
tance as from Chicago to New York ~
would also give him about 800 miles or
new road at a very moderate cost.
The Jeremiahs of the financial world
are lamenting over what they are pleas
ed to call the continuous expulsion" OF
gold from this country. They say It 10
on account of the inferior quality OF
our paper money as compared with gold
and its further deterioration by bank note
initiation This will be something for
future Congresses and currency reformers
to correct. Meanwhile the imitation or
gold may outpace every other kind OF
imitation. But that is another story.
w. g. NIcHOLAR