New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-28

the demand nhu not grown WIN h'O sePPv' "aN
the price continued very low and At was not
until 1916 that it attained such point as to make
it remuneratve to the parties engaged in the trade.
The iron manufacture of that year had risen to
1000 tuns, as stated by Mr. Walker, having
almost qusdrupled since 1912; and in that fact is
found the secret of the coal trade having become
remuneratiye in the face of an increase of supply
from one million in lS4l and AZ to almost three
millions only FIVE years later. With lStS we
have the commencement of the downward move
ment in price, aud this was continued steadily
through 1880 and 81, during the whole OF
of which period the iron trade was in state OF
decline, accompanied by corresponding decline
in the demand for, ard price Of coal, until 1t at
length reached point that proved ruinOus to a
large portion of the people engaged in the pro-
ductiOn of this important commodity-the price
of tun of the best fuel in the world after having
travelled more than one hundred miles to market
having been less than that OF cord OF pine wood
the poorest of all fuel.
Why, however it will be asked should these
people have gone on to increase their quantity so
rapidly, in the face Of a declining markes-say
from 300, coo tuns in lS49 to 49OO,OOO IN 1897
To furnish an answer to this question 1t Will DO
necessary to state what is the ordinary course oil
things in the preparation Of coal mine for opera
ton. Until recently, it has generally rs we arc
informed, been calculated tina. coal might begin
70 be sen. in about year from the time she spade
had been first put into the ground. With the
gradual development. of the trade however more
extensive and expensive works are found to be re-
quisae, and it is precisely as capital has thus been
applied to the business that the commodity mas
been cheaply furnished. Many of the works
recently established have cost, as we are IN
formed, from $4,000 to 100000, while one
that is as yet but very partially in operation
has. we are assured, already cost much more
than the latter sum. To expend so large an
amount of money on spot upon which out
few can work, requires, Of course, much time;
and in various instances two years have been re-
ouired to reach the point Of commencing to send
coal TO market, and third year to get the mine
into full operation. In one case that mas been
mentioned to US of a very extensive and costly
operation, three years have already been required
and the FIRST tun Of coal is only now about TO 90
to market while another year Will still DO re-
quired to get the concern started on the footing
proposed by the parties engaged in the operation
1t will now be seen by our readers that to pro-
vide for an increased demand requires two years,
if not even more, of preparation; and that, there
fore, that required for the increase OF 1901 muss
have commenced in l5i9, and that OF 1897 In
1850. if not even in ls49 In the midst, however.
of all this preparation, the market had in great
degree been annihilated Not only had furnaces
and mills ceased to be built, but great numbers
went out of operation, and very many passed
through the rude hands of the Sheriff; and the
consequence to the coal trade was seen In the fact
that the men who had given their means 10 the
opening of mines, the building of houses and the
ere ction of steam engines found themselves bank
rupt, and were, to a great extent sold out In
their turn by the Sheriff. The consumers Of fuel
we're very cheaply supplied, but it was at the cost
of the ruin of large portion Of its producers
men than whom more active, determined, aud
indefatigable race cannot, as We are assured, Dc
found in the Union. The times Of l5il had re-
turned British free trade had Frustrated them
then, and il did so now again.
California gold next came in to raise the prices
of cloth and Of iron-to start the old furnaces
and mills. and to promote the building OF new
ones. The duties on foreign commodities being
od raioren they rose, of course, with the rise of
foreign prices and declined with their depression,
and thus it has been that Protection has been
given when it was least needed, and withdrawn
when most required. In 1850, when our furnaces
were thrown out of blast, prices abroad were
very low, and so we're the duties. In 1853, when
the emigration of miners to Australia had greatly
raised the prices, and when freights were also
high, the duties rose to point that would in 1850
have been Protective. Such Is the beautiful
operation of our British free trade tariff, which
seems to have been specially q anged for the
destruction of our own manufacturers and for the
enrichment of their foreign rivals so soon as the
domestic competition has been destroyed.
It's effect on The coal trade was seen in the fact
that from ls49 to 1859 preparation for increase
was entirely suspended. The founderies Of the
coal region, that but few years before had been
taxed to their utmost capacity, were now idle.
and the consequence is showa by the fact that,
whereas in the two years from lS49 to 1852 the
increase had been 800 900 tuns that of 1852 was
but 5000 when, but for the disastrous effect
of the tariff of 1916 in closing mills and furnaces,
1t might readily have been 100000, or even
more. With 1852 came an increased demand,
with restoration of prices to the point at which
they had stood in 1916, and then again prepara-
ton began afresh to be made; but the increased
demand cOnaequent upon the sudden increase 10