Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-03

The Coal Trade Of virginia.
The recent loss of four vessels loaded at
Baltimore with Cumberland coal, threa-
tens the coal trade Of that city with the
most serious injury, and promises, so far as
the use Of Bituminous coal in ocean steam
navigation is concerned, to suspend the
transportation upon the Canal and Rail
road for that purpose. We do not doubt
but that the consumption of Cumberland
coal for domestic and manufacturing pur-
poses will continue to exist, but the fact
that any accidental wetting of cargo Of
this coal, either in loading or by leak, re-
suits in such terrible consequences, will
eftectually prevent insurance: nor will any
passengers trust themselves on board a
vessel loaded, or a Steamer propelled, with
so dangerous material. No war or mail
steamer will, we suppose, use it. In the
mean time, the increasing importance OF
marine steaming, will impel those interest
ed to keep some article free from any dan
ger whatever, and possessing the qualities
Of compactness, lightness, and capacity for
making steam. We believe that the Can
mel coal of Kanawha excels any other in
the United States in these qualities; and as
| the Ocean navigation, the navigation Of the
Mississippi River and its tributaries, and OF
the Lakes must require an immense and
lnexhaustible supply of the material best
suited for the purpose of steaming, we think
1t well behoovcs our Legislators and men
of enterprise, to turn their attention to the
means of transporting this invaluable arti-
Gle to Underwater, and in giving it a cheap
outlet to the West.
The recent report of Mr.. Swami to the
City Council of Baltimore shows that il
was the purpose of that cnterprising and
wise city to secure the coal trade for sup
plying ocean steamers. Already had the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad succecdedin
transporting $4,000 tons of Cumberland
coal, and loading COZ vessels during the
past year, and Mr., Swami made the sue
cessful transportation of that coal the basis
of a report against the extension of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from George
town to Baltimore. He was Of opinion
that Baltimore could get as much of the
coal trade as would be necessary for her
purposes without a canal. Why may not
Virginia now make the experiment Of Sc
curing the supplying of the ocean steam
marines with the Cannelc coal of Kanawhal
We give an extract from letter written
some time since at our request, by gen.
tleman interested in the Camel coal prop
erty, which is descriptive af the qualities of
that article. 1t will be observed that it re-
fers to the Bituminous coal as liable to the
objection of spontaneous combustion to
which 1T was necessarily exposed.
"The only experiments made carefully
to ascertain the adaptation of the Virginia
Camel coal TO our steam marine, were
those instituted some two years since, b,
the Secretary of the Navy, under the SUI
pervision of the Bureau of Construction at
Washington.
"The report of these experiments have
never seen. but the Secretary (Mr. Mason)
told me that they established the infinite
superiority of the Virginia coal over all 9th
crs.
1.-The boats on the Kanawha buy from
me all the coal will spare them, at double
the price Of the ordinary Bituminous coal,
-" S"y '"0y hho 1t ceonoiilCdi 10 use IL al
this price even nor, when their CRATES hare
not heen adapted to its use.
"The ordinary Bituminous coal, when
wctted,is exceedingly liable to spontaneous
combustion. The Camel is entirely free
from this objection. The ordinary coal is
liable to loss of 25 per cent. from slack
ing, by exposure to atmospheric action.
The Camel rs unaffected by air or weather.
Ordinary Goals havcmore or less of sulphur
IN them, which burns out the CRATES, fills
them with sevriU, destroys all Theron with
which 1t comes in contract, and thus endan-
gers the safety of the vessel and the lives
of the passengers. Camel coal has no sui
phur, but burns to beautiful white ash.
and falls throughthe gate, lcaving them clear
and uninjured. "-Richmond Mig.