Evening star., 1926-11-08
MERGERS RUMORED
Z. IN COAL INDUSTRY
Eastern Field Operators Try
, Ing to Keep Production at
Highest Point.
BY j. G. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. November s.-The
advance In wages in the Pennsylvania
hituminous mines to the level of the
Jacksonville scale or above, Is draw
ing MANY miners from the non-unlon
feIds Of West Virginia and Mary
land. Operators in all the Eastern
fields are determined to use every
effort to keep production up TO the
highest possible pitch while the Brit
ish coal strike is on. and the heaVy
dems nd continues from France. Italy
and Great Britain. Many operators
think that the non-uniOn West Vlr.
ginia and Maryland mines also VIII
increase wages TO check the EXODUS
The demand for soft coal for ex-
mort has resulted in improvement for
the entire industry. since dealers ana
consumers are showing decided IN
clination to buy even in districts
which export little or no coal. Some
Of the operators. however. view the
wage situation with alarm, rearing
the effect on negotiations when the
time comes to renew the agreement
between the miners and operators
which expires April !, 1927.
The anthracite producers are also
doing a splendid business, although
they admit that the oil burner has
made serious inroads among former
customers in certain sections.
Reports of big merger in the am
thracite fields are current throughout
Pennsylvania and New York financial
circles. These reports assert that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the
p. A. r. Widener estate Will sell
their large holdings in the Phladel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Co
to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Co., Nne of the largest Of the anthra-
cite companies.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Co. was ordered separated
from the Reading Railroad by order
cf the courts and all stockholders in
the Reading company must dispose
Of their interests in the coal company
hy January /. 1927. 1t has been an
nounced this limit will not be ex-
tended. The New York Central is
believed to own as much Reading
Railroad stock as does the Baltimore
and Ohio and Ia said to have sold
it's Phila adelphia and Reading Coal
end Iron holdings in the open market.
where the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
brokers had as good an opportunity as
any one to acquire 1t. There Are
1.400.OO0 shares Of Philadelphia and
hV6uiuk tOdI dIu ltOD vi fO pdt
value. The Baltimore and Ohio, It IL
stated. owns $4,000 shares and the
Widener estate 100000 shares.
In support Of the rumors of the
acquisition Of control of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron by
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation. 1t
Is pointed out that the Reading Rail
road Is endeavorins to lease the Le-
high and New England Railroad
which Is owned by the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Co. The leasing OF
the road. some coal men infer. might
involve an agreement by large Read.
ing stockholders to sell their coal
company holdings to the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Co. The Public Serv.
Ice Commission of PENNSYLVANIA. how.
ever. has still to rule on the proposal
to lease the Lehigh and New England.
Some coal experts doubt the effect
Of a combination Of two such large
hard coal producers on sentiment in
the anthra racitecons,lming States. The
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron owns or leases 1881 acres Of
coal lands and in normal years it's
. output is over 10. .000. 900 tons In 1920
II amounted to 11.S1S.542. with a sales
value of $74101.159. The I.ehigh Coal
and Navigation owns 5000 acres and
normal production is around $500 900
tons year. It's coal lands and e1uip.
ment are valued Al nearly S36. 900 900