Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-04
I'm. Immensity OF the Coal Trade.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ID, 1858

We have read, with interest, the memorial
Of the coal and iron panes--owners and
onerators Of the semi. bituminous coal lands IN
,he counties of Hampshire and Hardy in
Virginia. and Allegheny county, In Maryland
for aid from the State in the completion of
the Alexandra, Loudoun and Hampshire
railroad. Referring to the valuable mineral
resources of these counties, they say that
"dnriny the past year, notwithstanding the
,reat dspression in business, there has been
mined and delivered from these counties, u
the Baltimore and Oaio railroad, and the
Cbesapeake aud Ohio canal, about 600,0
TINS of coal That the superior and valua-
be character of this coal, Tor steam and
manufacturing purposes, continues constantly
u attract consumers, and that it's recent 10.
,ro6uc,iop. in this country, into locomotives
a, q saving over wood ot 20 per cent, promi-
ses 10 increase demand which already ex-
ceeds the means of transportation; that the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad Conn any de-
clare that they have now as much OF this
freight as their other trade will permit them
I handle. with the motive power at their
II 20 that road during its last fiscal year, was
Sl.570,00O That your petitioners have
large amount of capital Invested. and are
prepared TO furnish any quantity OF coal as
soon as they have adequate means OF trans
p1rtItion That the Alexandria, LOuduun
and Ham, shire railroad has been commenced
aud il 10 process of constr uction II the Cum
berand coal field at Piedmont, aud when
completed, by enabling your petitioners to
transport coal to Alexandria at Il much less
cost thar TO any other shipping port, Will ut
once secure TO ,tself an ample revenue. That
this would make Alexandria a great coal de-
not, second only to Philadelphia, and as
experience proves, that the centres tor coal
and iron soon become great manufacturing
centres. Alexandria will 10 consequence be-
come large manufacturing city"
The memorial above referred to, together
with the interesting and valuable tabular
statement subioined, showing the amount OF
coal -four hundred and tTeutysix thousand,
eight hundred and three TONS transported
from the Cur, heriand coal region during the
past year, will convey an idea OF what vas,
quantity of that IN aterial must inevitably be
received annually nj Alexandria, 80 soon as
the Alexandria. LOudoun aud Hampshire
railroad shall be compict d, IT. terminus be-
ing thirty five miles nearer tide-wster than
Baltimore.
1t should be borne in mind, however, that
the consumption Of this seml-bituminOus. as
well as all other varieties OF coal, is cOntinu.
ally Cd the increase and is only limited by
the price at which it can be afforded TO the
consumer The thousand per cent increase
in the demand for mineral luel for our steam
ships, furnaces, gas works, factories, tour-
dries, workshops and tire-sides, Is enough, TO
startle the tmil mind ard lead it to conceive
that If we 90 on at this destructive rate oil
burning up the bowels Of our mother earth,
the day is near at baud when she Will IN re-
sllty be destroyed by fire.
For instance, according to the tabular
statement 10 the year 1916, this Cumberland
coal trade may be said to have commenced
That year there were brought to Underwater
only 1888 tons and during the past year thu
quantity had increased to 426 SOB tons
Again, a table of anthracite coal statistics
before US. shows that during the year lS2O
when the anthracite coal trade commenced
there were mined and brought to market on
" 365 tons and that during the past year
6I64 587 NEARLY Scren mi{ijOa) tons OF that
coal we're transported from the Pennsylvania
mines to the seaboard. to supply the wants o
n our Atlantic cities.
4 These data furnish ample material for 80
Der reflection on the subject of the final coo''
buston of our little planet, and should not
be overlooked by those who believe in the
ultimate destruction Of all things. To our
Legislators these statistics present food for Sc
rious meditation on the question Of steady
Continuance and completion our main rail
roads Richmond Enquirer.