The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-05-26

III bhS b0AAO" PoSS, GIL OeAN ONSN pANN IL
great measure by the Gravity road of the
Pennsylvania Coal Company, which takes
up the last, and almost the only possible
ground, and is obliged to twist along con-
siderably to get through the same. This
would oblige the Cobb's Gap to be at an
increased expense to go over, under, and
around this road ofthe Pennsylvania Com
pany. Now mark the difference in regard
to the road from our place. The Wyo-
ming Valley, as before mentioned, is 81
miles in length, nearly double to that of
the Lackawana, and very different in all
respects in mineral opulence and magni-
tude, from It's western termination to the
Mill Creek Gap, which is miles East of
Wilkesbarre, and through which the Del
aware, Lehigh, and Wyoming Valley
road will leave the Valley, in direct
line, is 25 miles to our summit. Now any
unprejudiced mind may see at once that
this whole distance may be easily employ
ed, if necessary, to overcome the summit
from our town. The entire eastern slope
of the mountain, along which our road
would pass, is a gentle declivity, and so
unbroken that it would cost little more to
grade railroad along its side than to
construct common country road, and in
connection with this advantage, the route
along the said slope would pass over the
vast seams of our best coal, nearly to the
summit of this mountain.
The center of our Valley is the center
Of the Coal Basin, from which the Seams
spread for miles across the same and high
up on the mountain-side. This surely is
interesting to New Y orkers, who desire
cheap and pure fuel. The elevation of the
Mill Creek Gap, above Wilkesbarre is
800 feet from that Gap to the extreme
summit, which is 300 additional feet is Il
miles thus, to overcome the whole eleva-
ton of 100 feet in direct line, neces-
sary to pass from the Wyoming Valley
to the Delaware Water Gap, 3G miles of
distance can be adyantageously employ
ed, | speak from actual knowledge, and
my statements can be corroborated by
Col. Allen, who is now engaged in ma
king the actual surveys and estimates,
with two competent corps of assistants,
one at each end Of the line. The exami-
nation made thus far, which is about 10
miles toward the summit from our town,
proves to be at grade of fraction over
90 feet to the mile. We wait for his re-
port with perfect confidence that it will be
found satisfactory to all our friends.
One more fact in relation to furnishing
your city with Cheap Fuel and will fin
ish my somewhat lengthy communication.
Coal has been purchased from individ-
uals here for some of your companies at
from 65 to So cents per tun, ready pre-
pared and in the cars ready for market;
and at this price has paid well to the sell
lers. Now, taking the above rates as the
basis of coal delivered upon the line Of
our road, and adding anything reasona-
bic for toll and transportation that you
please-say 50, more than is paid upon
the Reading Road for like distance, and
you will have coal of the purest quality
delivered in New York City for one half
the price you now pay upon an aver
age the year round. And what will not
this accomplish in commerce, manufac-
turers and domestic economy in your city?
70 build and equip this road for the pres
ent single track is only needed to de-
velop what it is asserted here, which will
require an investment of 81, 500, 900, a
sum which would be more than saved
to the City of New York at the reduced
price of fuel after it shall have been In
operation single year. Can you doubt
it? Look at the Delaware and Hudson
Canal, and the Pennsylvania Coal Com
panies. Are they not great fayorites with
your capitalists The Pennsylvania Coal
Company have expended eleven millions
or more to construct their improvements
by distant and circuitous routes. What,
then, is there to hang doubt upon in
building this road of 55 miles in length,
which brings the great jHgJar vein of the
Anthracite coal formation within Eve hours
of your city? Does any one believe that
New York viii cease using Anthracite
coal
l call our formation the jugular vein,
from the fact that besides numerous les
ser seams, our whole valley is underlaid
by the mighty white ash veins of 20 feet
and the red ash of 27 feet in thickness
This should settle the question of Cheap
Fuel You can avail yourselves of it, il
you desire, at comparatively small out
lay. Why, Mr., Editor, there is an open
ing in Plymouth Township, seven miles
west from our town, that has been success
fully worked for more than twelve years,
and so enormous is its thickness that the
excavations do not extend to three quar-
ters of an acre. The Baltimore Goa!
Company s mine is mile and half east
of Wilkesbarre. They are and have been
excavating from their 26 feet vein 50, 900
tuns per annum, which they send altogeth-
er down the Susquehanna. But this ar
ticle is already drawn out much more than
| intended, and | will close by saying that
the more this subject matter is examined,
the greatness of its Importance to your