Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-10
WESTERN COAL TRADE.

WESTERN COAL TRADE.
CAssKIroS, QsD.) APRIL 20, 1851.
MEssRs EDIToRs In 1870 the receipts Of coal at Phila-
depha from the interior only three hundred and sixty
FIVE tons, and This quantity oversiocked the market
Since that period probably hundred millions Of dollars
have been invested fixed capital in the instruments re-
qured for the transportation Of Goals from their Appalachian
beds deaer and the yearly value Of the Pennsy
coal trade estimated seventeen millions OF dollars
The wonderful increase Of this ade and the powerful nu
has e1erted the growth Of cities, the establishment
Of and the extension Of along the
seaboard render the western coal fields and the coal trade
this valley subjects Of deep interest," not only TO tine man Of
business bu. to the phanthropiss and statesman If it
shall appear that the position of deposes Of and
heat are 50 convenient that but little fixed capital required
to bring them into active use and that auxiliary forces
attendant circumstances are favorable here than else
where for their profitable use, then the capitalist the manu-
acurer the operative, the Of business will appropriate
them in the expectation of profits corresponding with the a
ciles they afford tis evident that certain results re-
quired in civilized country, be attained here by the
working Of these coal strata, with less toll and with more
safety than is attendant the operations elsewhere
then the phanhropst will urge the transfer Of capital and
labor TO these positions Of safety and effectiveness If it is
iron, Lead refractory clays, &C., WIN tend ceuuuiis,
wealth and population in this valley then there at this
moment special reasons why the should closely
examine the strength Of these attracting centrpea forces
have no, the leisure il it my present object to give
even an abstract Of the prominent cts bearing on these
points The statistics published by Dr.. Owen, Mr. r. O..
Taylor Professor Johnson, and other eminent geoogss
clearly show that positive averment be substituted for
my conditional "if;' that given amount Of capital and
labor in all their direct and collateral combinations, will here
give larger result in ordinary metallic and textile fabrics
than The reports the British Parliament Of the
condition of the English colieries show such amount Of
human ignorance suffering and crime, incident 10 the ras
inc Of coal and iron from the bowels Of the earth. that the
man Of christian benevoence and human sympathy must de-
sire that such labor shall be employed where there can be
found entire safety life, the greatest efficiency Of snew and
muscle and the largest advantages for moral and mental
culture. .s@ aar
The following facts and views may show, that, however
wide apart Massachusetts, and South Carolina may be in their
political relations the different sections Of this valley must
be forever united. rs
Dr. Arnold in his splendid lectures Modern History,
thus ocby illustrates the connection between the physics
and politics Of a country
"Geolosy and Psychology closely connected with his
tory For instance, what lies at the bottom Of the questions
now being discussed every where the question of the
laws but the geological fact O that England is richly
supplied with coal mines than any other country
!" What is that which threatens the permanence of the
union between the Northern and Souhern States Of
American confederacy, but the physiological fact % that the
soil and climate Of the Southern States render them essential
agricultural, while those Of the Northern States combined
with their geographical advantages seapo dispose
them less naturally 10 be manufacturing aud commercial
The whole character Of nation may be influenced by
geology and physical geography"
Now by reference to the geological map Of this valley
published in Dr. Lyels Travels in America .t SERIES it
will be noticed that available Goals ores ore chiefly
between the Ssh and 4lst parallels Of latitude, and between
the districts that peculiarly appropriate, the the
growth OF fbrous staples and the other The cereals The
positions most convenient for mining and manufacturing
aions are where the naygabe the oucroppng
strata Of the Appalachian Illinois, and central Missouri coal
Railroads may pass and through other mine
raj positions but until the Of railroad transportation sha
be reduced three four mills TO the mile for ton, (Which
is the present cost Of freight on rves) chief
erce and largest population be great
highways Within these three degrees Of latitude, have
not only the climate favorable 10 mining and manufac
turing labor but the soil and climate best adapted the pro-
duciion II those articles Of subsistence which particularly
required by population iabong in partial confinement a
cles ,hs, will not bear distant transportation
As our population increases, and divides aod subjdes
into employ that mark the progress Of civilization, there
will stream Of emisrans flow into his centre did
'o the regions north Of the Trent that possessed, in the
coal beds. Of wealth far precious than the gold
mines Of Peru, snd where almost every kind Of msnufac
,ure could tie pro6tsby carried on"
Until Inc last twenty years scarcely bushel Of coal
mined Of Wheeling, and bot little shipped below
tina, point None then used the Lakes The forests
that then skred all our banks furnished fuel at
rates for steamboats,. manufactures and 10 great eIn, fo
city purposes About fifteen years sgo the Pittsburgh boat
oessn TO change their furnaces and substitute coal for wood
,ns Pf'Jadce Of engineers very strong against thi
oa' gradually of they gained experience
we use o. he new fuel now, The mines Pomeroy slons
iunsn daily supply ss said Of about twenty thoussns
o. ~oco large part is sold the mines passing
boats Below The Falls Of The Ohio the consumption Of cod
d j. increasing With great pdy and ss soon a. they can b
furnished a convenient points the lower Msss,pp hs
d steamboats, will probably rely entirely on this fuel Th.