Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-17

4
PLIES OF COAL. DC
Editors Union and Ame4ioan As the article
of coal is becoming an important item IN our do
nestle affairs, it is expedient that we look to ou,.
otcn means of furnishing constant and Regular
supply, equal to the demand and at prices that will
encourage rather than discourage the manufactur-
ing interest of the country. azss-s-=-sessssss-
The extent of the coal fields of Tennessee has
not been thoroughly ascertained, but is estimated
at not less than 6, 600 square miles, embraced
within the Cumberland Mountains, and stretching
across the State from N. E. to s. W.
The Geological reports of the late Dr. TRoosr
show, that besides the immense depesites of coal,
! extra in quality this whole region of country
abounds in mineral wealth, q which Ito use his
own language) can only be properly developed by
railroad facilities, and which otherwise tle means
of transportation being DEFICIENT may remain DOR
mant for great number of years" This was a
wise SUGGESTION and had it been needed, Tennes-
see at this day, would rank among the foremost
IN dctiUe mining and manufacturing operations
How stands the case2 Our mines of COAL iron
copper, lead marble, gypsum, slate, &c. are as I'M
approachable for all practical purposes as though
they were in the moon when, ithout the ordin-
airy difficulties attending the building of railroads
in mountainous country, they might be made
easy of access.
What is the annual product of the coal mines Of
the State A few ytat-boat loads sent down the
Tennessee River, and what is consumed by the
blacksmiths in the vicinity of the mines this as ALL
We depend chiefly upon Pennsylvania and Ken
tucky for supplies, and occasionally (when by rea-
son of low water or ice, these uncertain sources
fall shipments of English Coal have been made
from NeaO Orleans; thus, paying out every gear
several hundred thousand dollars to foreign inter-
ests for that which we have at our own doors; and
it is now gravely said, that "as soon as the Ken
tscky roads finished Tennessee aon be placed in
the lOay to secuwe an unlimited supply of coal"-
Would it not be just wise to let forests stand
and depend upon the same source fer supplies of
wood2 the cases are precisely analogous, and one
is just as prepostercus IS the other.
1t is not the object of the writer to disparage
any railroad improvement projected in this State
They all tend dead where they may to the general
Improvement Of the country yet he cannot but
think, that policy runous to the best interest of
Tennessee which does not regard, as paramount to
all other considerations, that system, in the con
structon of railroads, which will tend most to de-
velope her own resources, and as far as our own
products are concerned, make her citizens indie
pendent of foreign supplies To great extent the
proposed Central road from the Mississippi River
to Knoxville particularly that portion of it be-
tween Nashville and Knoxville) will effect this OBJ
ject to the mineral resources as it would pass,
not in the 'aeighbOrhood of but oper the mineral
region, striking the coal field within eighty miles of
Nashville, about four hours railroad time) and it is
believed, upon do1Cn grade the whole distance.
1t is plain that until something is done to supply
an abundance of coal for manufacturing purposes
at reasonable prices, capital will not seek invest
ment in Tennessee, and the simple question is
whether it is better to get that supply from our
own mines Thereby giving employment and profit
to our people, or sit idly by" and let our more
neighbors furnish it2
These circumstances may appear of very little |
to those who have given the subject
only superficial consideration, and look only to OBJ
tanning what our necessities require, without regard
to the manner yet on examination they will find
that the consequences of the two methods are of
vast importance, and extend themselves far and
vide, both on their immediate objects, and on a
thousand others, as well in the present as the future
Dec. IL, 1898 HOME.