Evening journal., 1913-10-23
DENY HARD
COAL TRUST
Furthermore, Public Can Do
Without Anthracite, Say
Companies in Answer
to MCReynOldS
WILMINGTON AND NORTHERN
ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS


Philadelphia and Reading Railway
Company, the Philadelphia and Read
ing Coal and Iron Company the
Reading Company and the Whining
ton and Northern Railroad Company,
principal defendants IN the Govern
ment's suit to dissolve the so-called
Anthracite Coal Trust" filed separ-
ate answers In the United States Dis
trict Court yesterday, making general
denial to the charge Of having formed
an illegal combination to stlhe COM
petition in the sale and transporta-
lion of anthracite coal in. Pennsyi-
vania.
1t is understood these answers will
form the defense of all the defend
ants in the suit Each answer gives
4 detailed denial in so far as the Gov
ernment's allegations affect the indi-
vidual company.
Each denies that It is a party, di-
rectly or indirectly, to any agreement
contract, combination or conspiracy
by virtue OF which it, either alone
or in combination with the other de-
PENDANTS or any of them, or otherwise,
has acquired the power now or here
after to control, regulate, restrain or
monopolize, OF by virtue of which IT.,
either alone or in such combination,
does control. regulate, restrain or
monopolize, either the production OF
anthracite, or its transportation from
the mines in Pennsylvania to market
points in other States. or its price or
sale in or throughout other States
Denies Uunlawful Acts.
The Reading Company admits that
Il is the holding company OF the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company and the Philadelphia
and Reading Railway Company; also,
that it owns nearly all the capital
stock of the Wilmington and Northern
Railroad. the Schuylkill Navigation
Company, and the Central Railroad OF
New Jersey. II denies specifically,
however, that the company was made
an instrument to accomplish any, un-
lawful purpose or to accomplish a
lawful purpose in an unlawful way
II is further averred that the plan
for the reorganization in 1896 of the
Railway Company and the Coal and
Iron Company was for the purpose
of saving large investments of the
public and was done under the law
of Pennsylvania II is denied thai
the Reading Company, the Railwa.
Company and the Coal and Iron Com
pany are one and the same associ
alton of persons engaged in mining
selling and transporting coal.
Purpose Not Monopoly.
The Reading Company denies tina
the purchase of the majority of stoc
of the railroads was made to effect
I.st Z dnnp in IN
natural course of business, the RAJ
roads being connecting lines.
The Philadelphia and Reading Raj
way points out that substantially a
the anthracite not consumed near tn
mines moves to market over abou
ten railroad systems; that New lor
harbor and Philadelphia are import
ant markets: that Philadelphia
reached over the lines of the defend
ent and those of the Pennsylvani
Railroad: and that a substantial tor
mage is distributed by water froI
Philadelphia to New England.
Attention is called to the fact tha
while in the fiscal year ending Jun
go. 1912. the company transporte
11.224945 gross tons of anthrioate,
Transported 14s06.222 net tons
general merchandise
Controls C0al Lanus.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coz
and Iron Company admits holding u
major portion OF stock of six Co
companies. which own 5000 acres
coal lands in the Schuylkill regio
All was purchased in the lawi
course of business, it is averred.
is admitted that, since 1896, the Rea
ing Company has, from time to tim
made to the Coal and Iron Cornpan
temporary commercial loans. but tn
these are usually repaid within fe
months.
The Wilmington and Northern Ra
road Company admits that a MAORI
OF its stock is owned by the Readil
Company II denies that anthraci
constitutes ITS principal freight. a
that TIE acquisition of its stock by t
Reading Company had any tenden
to accomplish an anthracite mono
oily