Archive Report
Archive Report
Five years ago the United States Coal Commission reported to Congress that anthracite was a “natural monopoly.” Hard coal was produced by an industry in which there could be no free competition under the laws of supply and demand “because the supply is limited and controlled.” Eight large companies, then affiliated with but now separated from the anthracite carrying railroads, produced 74 per cent of the total output and controlled 90 per cent of the un-mined coal. Discussion of restoring competition between these big companies the Coal Commission regarded as academic. The real question was whether the service they gave was satisfactory and whether their prices were fair. The existing situation, the commission said, was one in which increases in price could readily be ...