Public Interest in Coal Mining
A decision of the United States Supreme Court holds that there is a limit to the right of individuals or corporations to do as they please with enterprises in which the public have an essential interest by virtue of necessity. Even in running grain elevators, an Illinois statute regulating the service and fixing the prices is sustained. The court holds that “property does become clothed with a public interest when used in a manner to make it of public consequence, and affect the community at large. When, therefore, one devotes his property to a use in which the public has an interest, he in effect grants to the public an interest in that use, and must submit to be controlled by the public for the common good to the extent of the interest thus created.” It would seem that this principle would apply with even greater force to the working of coal mines. The coal originally belonged to the people, who received nothing in return for it. The operators have brought it out to possible use, but it is hardly just that the interest of the unremunerated owners should have no consideration in the disposal of the product.