Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-23
STATE ExECUrIvE COM1IITTEE.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1859.
Cheap Coal.

Cheap Coal.
Great stress is laid npon the advantages
which Nashville derives, and is to derive,
from her railroads. Evident as these advan-
vintages are, something more is necessary to
her prosperity in the future. She must en-
bark deeply in manufacturing enterprises;
and when she shall have done this, her des-
tiny will be assured for all time. Her pros
perity will then be founded upon a substan-
tial basis, and her increase in wealth, pop
ulation, and all the elements Of greatness and
power. will steadily progress. But, we can
not have manufacturing establishments to
any great extent unless we have cheap fuel
This is admitted on all hands. Where shall
we obtain ample supplies of cheap fuel? We
have, heretofore, answered this question: and
we believe, correctly; by pointing to the
coal mines of the Nashville and Rowena Coal
Company, and showing the price at which
coal can be furnished from them. We de-
sire again TO direct the attention OF our citi-
zens to this source of cheap fuel During the
month OF April last, we visited Clinton coun-
ty, Kentucky, and with others examined the
coal beds of the Company. Those in Short
Mountain are very fine. There have been
three openings made in different parts OF the
mountain, and in each the coal has been
found to be of uniform quality, though the
thickness of the strata variesirom three to five
feet The quantity is inexhaustible. The strata
of coal are seen on both sides of the mountain
which is two miles long by near mile wide.
In Poplar Mountain, close by, the quantity is
mpcb greater: altogether, sufficient to furnish
Nashville for a couple Of hundred years In
terested parties have endeavored to propagate
the belief that these beds are so situated that
the coal cannot be brought to the river. at
any but a ruiuous cost; that the topography
of the country presents insurmountable obsta-
cles We know this to be false; as we have
gone over the whole route of the proposed
railroad to connect them with the river, and
found the road entirely practicable. The
work on the road is remarkably light for
mountain ridge and can be done at less cost
than railroads are usually constructed. The
coal once delivered at the river, it can be
brought here upon an ordinary tide OF water,
when nothing can be brought from the upper
mines, above the Shoals. In relation to the
cost OF the proposed railroad, and Of the coal
delivered here, we ask the readers attention
to the following brief report of the Chief En-
gineer of the Tennessee and Alabama Rail-
road, one of the most reliable officers in the
country:
TENNESSEE h ALABAMA RAILROAD,
Engineers Office, Nashville May -, 1889
W. 7. GARRETT, Esq.-Dedr Sr-Below is
the result of the examination of the Railroad
line from Cumberland river to the Rowena
Coal Banks made by Mr.. ID. J. JOINS.
The distance is 77-I0O miles, and the
ca culation is made for Railroad of suffi-
cient capacity to transport 100000 to l,0OO,-
GEO bushels of coal annually.
A portion of the distance will be by mule
power, the remainder 10y locomotive. The
calculation is Tor a grade of 1870 feet per
mile ascending toward the mines and maxi
mum grade of SO feet per mile, ascending
toward the river. with sufficient width OF
track, roadway, &c, to ensure n substantial
road, capable of being well drained aud readi-
ly repaired.
The estimate is as follows:
For Clearing Excav atrg ,arth and ock
building Culv rts, Treste work. fur
nishing Cross Ties, and making the
necessary Bins and shutos 49,. sse,745 IS
cs and laying the track .......... 2s,62a rs
For one Locomotive Engine and cars,
mules, harness ,nule-cars with prop
ercompement Of fiat boais......... 1880 90
contingencies, &c ................ s,274 so
Total estimated cost .............. sSl ,449 50
or In round numbers $4,000, which, with
good management, would be sufficient to
complete the road ready to commence trans.
porting coal.
From data furnished me, think the cost OF
mining and delivering coal at Nashville from
their mines, will be about eight cents per
bushel. Very respectfully,
A. ANDERSON.
The country through which this eight miles
of railroad passes, is one of the finest regions
for timber in the United States On the line ar
found Pine, Poplar, Chesnnt and White oak,
of the largest size. Independent Of the coal,
the road would be good investment as
means of hauling lumber to the river for the
supply OF our growing city. But il is Of
cheap coal that We are now writing. and we
pass from this branch of the subject with this
incidental notice.
We are fully satisfied that IL Nashville de-
sires and intends to have cheap fuel, she
must look to this source for IT, We commend
the subject to the attention OF her oilizens-
particularly those who have capital. We
shall recur to the subject again.