Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-09

The maxim in commercial struggles is
neither to give nor ask quarter. 1t is con-
fiict where there is neither parley nor truce,
forbearance nor mercy. 1t is war of ex-
termination. and simply for spoils, and to the
victor they belong without question or
accountability. For my part l admire the
| sagacity and daring of Louisville. She has
marched up boldly and fearlessly and charged
upon our very suburbs; if we submit, very
well, have no quarrel with her. We must
turn our anathemas upon our own heads
| The Louisville and Nashville road viii be
shortly completed. The greater part of the
track is graded, and the track-laying is pro-
ceeding with energy. OF course the Louis
vile end has the most of the work, as it is
clearly entitled TO it. In year or less the
two cities will be linked together.
Next we have the Edgfeld and Kentucky
or Henderson and Nashville road. This road
| occupies totally different relation to Nash
| vile to that of any other of her connections
One of its chief advantages is in the supply
| of fuel. We have never felt its need so much
in the past as we shall do in the future. We
household consumption-with bad enough
grace, it is true-but we have managed to use
coal for domestic purposes at high, very high
prices. We have complained and bought,
and bought and complained, and still had
our ruffied tempers and glowing fires. And
so we may continue. None of us could be
induced to exchange our coal fires at IS cents
per bushel cdn measure, for wood at four dol
lars and fifty cents per cord, by the tape.
But we never can make our commercial cal
citations on so narrow basis. While we
may curse and tolerate the high prices of
coal for necessary domestic purposes-give
coal dealers what may be esteemed enor-
nous prices. and make. or save, money at
the same time, we cannot build up an enlarg-
ed commerce on such figures. In this case
our competition is with other cities and other
communities the other, the contest is
simply between the coal-dcaler and the wood
chopper, as to which shall make the most out
of us--we being passive subjects.
1t has been assumed IS fact, that with
coal at 10 cents, Nashville would have the
advantage of any city South and West of
Pittsburg as point for manufacturing. i
have not all the facts at hand to verify abso-
lutely the truth of the assumption. In the
article of fuel it is certainly true. and in re-
spect to raw material, iron, lumber, cotton, it
scarcely admits of a doubt. In the other
great element, labor, the disparity against
Nashville could not countervail the other |
advantages in her favor. That manufacture |
ing is to be the basis of our future progress |
is indisputable. Iron, wood and cotton are |
the staples out of which is to be worked the |
the commercial growth of Nashville. To |
this complexion the thing will inevitably |
come at last VIII then the building of the |
Henderson road promote this line of invest |
ment, and stimulate this class of industry |
Will it give us cheap fuel? Ithas been urged |
upon the city, recently, that, if the city would |
take certain stock in the road, sufficient to |
insure its early completion. one company |
would engage to furnish a million bushels of |
coal per annum. for specified time at l21 |
cents. The coal lands of this company are |
rs, 600 acres, and said to be inexhaustible. l
have nothing to say here of the city sub
scripti0n asked for. [ understand that |
the prospects of that road are good, and that |
it will be built. The road itself has asked no |
help from the city; the application comes
from this Coal Company, and they seem to be |
principally interested in it. But that these |
Kentucky coal fields will yield us cheap |
fuel admits of little no doubt. On this
head l quote from a report of an investiga
ton made in August 1857 for this Company,
by our State Geologist and Col. RICHARD
OWEN, late Professor of Geology in Nash
Vile University whose abilities are well
known as follows:
"The lowest price paid for coal, in Nash
vile, is about S4.75 per ton, and it is often
double that price. Reduce the price TO So 90
Der ton, or about 10 cents per bushet, and you stu
haze gross receipt Of SlO0, 600 for each acre of
oaI mined; of ,ohich, at Loao estimate, than
me half would be net profit, as the actual labor
Of getting out is now only one cent per
oushel, and the total cost including, some 80
niles per railroad. about cents more; max
ng each acre of land thus underlaid, when
worked out equal TO over $4,000. In these
il is true, many of the data are
somewhat uncertain; yet the assumptions are
placed so much lower than appearances
would seem to justify that the differences
lrawn are comparatively safe"
These facts, together with the competition
If the Cumberland river and Cumberland
coal fields, will certainly bring to
fuel at manufacturing prices. The
cad will also add something to the commerce
# Nashville, in the grain, stock and tobocco
which it will bring hither and the merchan-
lie which it will surely carry away. 1t
will also connect us with the roads if Indiana
t Evansville and thence with the Northwest.
n this view it is one of our most desirable
and as such put it down.
MFfyHAN1c