Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-09
To the ssSsty Fathers,o OF Mayor, Al
dermen and Common Council.

To the ssC.ty Fathers,'' of Mayor, Al
dermen and Common Council.
GExTIEMEx Your two Boards have been
pleased to appoint joint Committees. for the
reception and entertainment of the following
proposition from me. the authorized agent of
the Hopkins MastUdon Coal Company: That
this Coal Company bind itself to furnish one
million JusI.els of coal annually, for eight con-
secutive years to the citizens Of Nashville
at the invariable price of (124 cts.) tocelve and
a hqLf cents per b,lsheL, for Aeu Average coal,
commencing with the completion of the
Nashville & Henderson Railroad, from Nash
vile to their coal fields in Hopkins county,
KY. upon the following conditions:
lat. When this Railroad is completed from
Nashville, 10 said coal fields ; and when this
said Coal Company is shipping" coal to
Nashville. then and not till then, the corpora
ton OF Nashville. through their Mayor and
Aldermen subscribe TO the stock of the Nash
willie & Hend rson Railroad, one hundred and
fft, Hopsdnd dgLlars.
ID That this subscription be paid by Issuing
then, city bonds OF this amount. to said Rail-
road Company, bearing per cent interest,
payable, both interest and principal in some
city bank Of Nashville.
3rd. That the proceeds Of said bonds be ex-
pended in the completion OF the Eastern pOr-
tion of the Kentucky division of said Rail-
road.
Although we design to present in a solid
rI wi
the argument for its favorable consideration
verified by statistical facts, alphabetically
ranged to the Joint Committees Of our
City Fathers, nevertheless we solicit their pub
LEGATION by the city press in numbers" for
the p"rusal Of our citizens. from the valuable
facts we trust they may contain, relative to
the past and present commercial position
of our city, and what may be its future pro-
gress and prosperity.
The first interrogatory that naturally pro-
pounds itself to every consderate mind, is
Who constitute this Coal Company that submit
this proposition for our consideration; and
what is its ability of performance In reply
we assert, that the stockholders of this Com
pany, as citizens of Tennessee and Kentucky,
are gentlemen Of the first respectability and
are well known most of them, among many
of our citizens for their wealth, their interg-
rity, their enterprise and high national posi-
ton. See exhibit "A which contains a list
of their names.
As to the ability of this Company to per-
form their obligation. This Coal Company
own from $4,000 to rs. 900 acres Of coal lands,
lying in the counties of Hopkins and Christian,
KY, ali paid for, and, "a a company without
one cent Of indetcdness to any One.-through
the entire lenghth of which, the Nashville &
bracing every foot Of valuable coal land on
either side of the Railroad, for distance of
from one TO six miles,-with innumcrable
banks already opened, some of which have
been worked for years-rangiDg from to Is
feet in thickness, and with an average from
25 to 35 feet of solid coal above the level of
the railroad bed, and distant from Nashville,
from IS to so miles. These lands contain
three distinct varites Of coal; what is termed
the Pittsburg coal, the Cumberland or up
river and the Oil OF Breckenridge. In proof
of these statements see exhibit 3D." which
contains the Geological reports Of the State
gcologist Of Kentucky, the special report of
J. NJ. STAFFORD to the Corporation of Nashville
also the special joint report of j. NJ. Stafford
State Geologist Of Tennessee, and RICHARD
OWEN. their professor of geology and miner
alogy in the University of Nashville, made to
the Hopkins Mastodon Coal Company.
Another interrogatory naturally presents
itself to our minds. Is this a liberal PROPOSE
ton, to our citizens upon the part of this
Coal Company, or what indeed are its objects?
At the first presentation Of the proposition
ii seems liberal; because no other Coal Com
pany, for any similar consider tion, ever offer
ed to hind itself to sell this or any given
large amount of coal for a term OF years, to
our citizens at so low price. But invariably
all Coal Companies have demanded and re-
ceiyed the highest prices, in spite OF our
exigencies or necessities, whether these result
ed from the severity of our winters, the low
stages OF water. or the distractions of ice in
our rivers, or the pressing stringency of our
moaey market. Indeed they have asked for
coal what they pleased, and we have paid
what they asked, because we preferred this to
freezing or suffering.
If. therefore, it be just and right for Coal
Companies to ask and receive rs much as
they can get for their product OF merchandise,
then il is ,aag1l1niniJas in the Hopkins Coal
Company to propose delivering coal at a GER
tain period. to The citizens of Nashville for
the uniform low price of l21 cents per bushel
when by the corporations subscription 10 the
Railroad, they are not directly identified one
cent Again without this obligation why
should this Coal Company furnish the citizens
Of Nashville coal at this price. Why should
1t not combine with the other Coal Companies,
and maintain the price at the present rate, OF
from twenty-five to thirty cents per bushel
Under what peculiar obligation is IL to
the citizens of Nashville? We know
none. This Coal Company to all other Coal
Companies can dictate its terms when this
Railroad i flashed. Why. Because il is by
40 miles nearer than any coal field % Nash
Vile. Because its veins of coal are much
more numerous, and far thicker aud superior
in their variety and quality. Because-un-
like the wanee--it has no interest % pay
upon any debt much less thar Of 5000, 000.-
and because this city is mere Incidental
market their great market being the steam
boats and cities, sugar factories and iron es-
Establishments, on the lower waters OF the Cum
bertrand, Ohio aud Mississippi rivers because.
finally. with 40 railroad to bald, with uuin-
terrupted communication with their various
markets In very short time, and with their
thick veins above the Railroad level, and a
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