The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-07
To LEWIS BoSp, and others.
LECTURE.

~ A|1"'s o"NDp osiu OtHStu.
LECTURE.
GENTLEMEN: If had the talents to amuse and
entertain public audience--taents, to which ]
make no pretensions; could not expect to afford
amusement and entertainment on subject Of dry
statistics; but on subject SO deeply interesting to
the people Of North Carolina az the development
Of their resources. | hope to be able to command
the attention Of an audience 40 patriotic as that
which have the honor to address, while dis
course for short period. on the value Of the coal
fields of Deep river, subject to which have
given my undivided attention and laborious invss
ugstion for the last few months.
The value Of coal as mineral fuel, is but little
known, except to those whose Interests have
made it a subject of study. Professor Taylor, in
his invaluable work, on the statistics Of coal, very
justly remarks, that it would be no difficult task
to show, in figures, how vastly more profitable is
the application of labor in the mining and working
and transportation Of coal, than that of the pre-
cious metals. "The annual production Of all the
gold and silver mines Of North and South Ame-
nca was estimated hy Baron Humboldt at nine
millions of pounds sterling, and at present Tex
cepting the recent discoveries in California; is
less than 1--WE millions Of pounds, or twenty-five
millions Of dollars. Now, the value of the coal
produced annually, in Great Britain alone, is
computed at fifty millions of dollars at the pits
mouth, and from seventy-fve to one hundred
Great Britain is indebted to her coal for her SUI
premacy as manufacturing, commercial and mar
itime nation. Take from her the coal mines, and
she would sink into fourth rate commercial and
maritime power. Her manufactures would cease
her ShefieIds, Birminghams and Manchesters
would be no more, and her people would be COM
PEELED To emigrate or starve.
The use Of coal. in the United States, to sny
considerable extent. has been very recent. The
immense coal fields west of the Aleghanies were
considered Of little value, twenty-five years ago,
and the anlhracites Of Pennsylvania were scarcely
know thirty years since. The whole amount of
that kind Of fuel mined in Pennsylvania in egh-
teen hundred and twenty was only 365 tons. The
mining Of that spscies Of coal increased very slow
iy, as It had TO make its way against public pre-
JUDGE, arising from its difficulty of ignition.
In 1924, the amount Of anthracite mined and
sent to market was only seventy seven thousand
tons. From that eriod the quantity rapidly in
creased, and in l649 amounted TO nearly three
millions and half Of tons. In 1850, it is estmat-
ed, the amount did not fall short of four millions
OF tori. The beneficial effects resulting to the
State Of Pennsylvania from the development of
her coal 6eds was felt and acknowledged through
out the length and breadth Of her land. The
growth Of her commerce increased with the growth
and Development Of Eer mineral resources. In
1920, the coastwise arrSais at the port Of Pha
dolphin amounted to only 81; in Ie47 TO 1909
Three millions OF tons Of anthracite coal were
brought to market that year, whose value Then
f,oefre millions cf dollars. and eleven thousand
four hundred and thirty-nine vessels cleared from
the single port Of philadelphia that season. loaded
with million and quarter tons Of coal.
During the agitation Of the tariff in l648, at
Washington, it was stated by Mr.. Cameron. of
Pennsylvania, that thirty years ago coal was en-
tireiy unknown in this country; yet in 1886 it
gave employment to four millions Of days work
annually. II kept in movement thousand ships
Of one hundred tons each. and afforded a nursery
for the training Of six thousand seemen, who
earned three millions Of dollars yearly. II gave
circulation to capital of fifty millions Of dollars.
Il kept in nctivity fifteen thousand miners and
sustained a mining population Of ffty thousand
souls, soho annSni. consumed upicards of fro mil
ions Torfh Of agricultural productions, and more
than three and half millions Of dollars worth of
merchandise.
To Pennsylvania (ssys Professor Tsylor) the
almost exclusive possession Of this species Of
eombustible (anthracite) within reasonable dis
lance Of the sea-board, is a boon Of iaesimobLe
pr;cs, which places her in position of enriabk
sxserioriv, and battles speculation as 10 The point 10
schiA may ultimately eiernie her. II such then
have been tho magnificent results, from the de-
reiopment Of the coal fields Of Great Britain and
Pennsylvania. and such the anicipations as to the
future. the question occurs what are the value OF
he coal feids n North Ca, oiinn.
Their value depends upon their eJfeni, upon che
hicknsss Of the beds The quality o The rooi and the
fsriAfes and ehtapnt@ II Transportation 10 tide rcier
nal thence to . market. As to their extent. VOC
heard aat evening the statement Of Professor John
son, than whom no one stands higher in his pro-
fession. Ne lad recently returned from tour OF
several weeks examination in the valley Of Deep
nyer lie stated that his own observations sntis-
EAj him that tho coal measures Of Deep river ex-
tended fifteen miles, and that hs bad reliable au-