New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-13

tina crove Of the Female School at Bethlehem, Pa,
no ess than thirteen bodies have been taken Out up
TO the present tins. :,
Our present purpose, however, is not so much with
this sad record as state more accurately than has
been hitherto DONE the damage 10 the coal interests
and the extent TO which that trade will probably be
interrupted.
The first TO he mentioned and the fsrhest South,
Il the Cumberland bituminous region. Two ave-
mes bring tho coal from these mines to market
through Virginia and Mary land-the CHESAPEAKE
and Ohis Canal, from Cumberland to Georgetown,
and tie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from Camoer'
land to Baltimore. The business here mas oeeh
much interrupted by military movements the lines
having been at intervals in the hands oil the heDeis.
In consequence of this, the supply OF bilumnous ana
semi-bituninous coal had already been greatly dlmn-
ished. BIT the Harpers Ferry bridge, which LAO
been saved from the destructive bands OF tie Rebels
by GREAT efforts Welded to the food and the trans'
portstion of coal is still further delayed On the
whole, however, though considerable carnage Is
done TO the mines and to the canal and railroads. the
prospect ia that the canal will be in running order In
about 10 or l2 days. and the road, within three OF
four weeks.
Coming north, and entering the Anthracite coal
fields of Pennsylvania, we find that every avenue,
with scarcely single or unimportant exception, ID
at least temporarily closed. The principal outlets
are the Schuylkll Canal, tine Reading Railroad, the
I,ebioh Canal. the Lackawa anna and Western Rail-
road. and the Delaware aud Huoson Canal. The
sehuyhi Canal will be repaired within three weeks
and the Reading Road is scarcely damaged, OUT VIII
lie DELAYED by the repairs necessary on the lateral
roads which are its feeders VI lateral foaos, tDe
Mine Hill and Mill Creek the principal aud they
will not be ready under two weeks. The Laeka-
wanna Road will need between one and two weeks,
and the Delaware and Hudson Canal from four to
Fix weeks. The principal damage on the former 10
at Port Jerys, the Lsckawack Aqneduct, and the
Rock Lock. The latter is entirely swept away.
The Lebgh Canal is the great sufferer. This
Conpanys work is an improvement of the Lehigh
River over which by their charerthey have exclusive
control. The Lehigh is fed from the mountains, and
IL liable 10 freshets Of the most rapid and violent
character. Two great foods-One in 1871, and the
other in l85O-had induced the Company to build
their locks, embankments, and bridges in the most
substantial manner, and it was hoped that they might
DEFY the elements But the present freshet has sur
passed in violence any before known, and has fairly
cleaned on. the canal locks, bridges, and ALL partic-
ul,rly above Msuch Chunk. There is little hope
that it will be ready for use in its whole length this
season Indeed it is believed that the upper part,
toward White Haven, will not be reconstructed, but
a railroad built instead. The sole reliance for lie
high coal now remaining is the Lehigh Valley Rail
road, from Msuch Chunk near which place the most
important mines are situated, 10 Easton. This road
will not be ready TO transport coal IN less than three
weeks, though the Beaver Meadow IA lateral Road,
Joining the Lehigh Valley at Mauch Chunk. and
mon which It's business mainly depends) will be
much longer delayed.
The PROPORTIONS of coal carried by the Lehigh
Canal and Railroad were as folio w lat year: the
Canal. 99i,7O5 tunsi the Railroad, 7i3, 672 tuns.
This coal il thought to have no adequate substitute
for furnace and foundry purposes, and the
Of shipuents by the canal will, of course, tend to
advance the price enormously The total production
of the Pennsylvania anthracite fields last year was
7.7,5. 900 tune. The deficit this year cannot fail
much short Of 100000 tuns.
1t is impossible, Of course, to estimate, even with
nroxipa,e accuracy, the amount of the damage. The
loss Of boats although very great, Is perhaps the
leas, tem. large quantity Of coal, in transit on
the Lehigh, probably 10000 tuns, was lost. The
damage along the line irrespective Of that to the
canal, is very great. The canal Itself must be almost
reconstruc,ed and it is probable that the large sur
plus which this remarkably prudent Company had
accumulated about 81 ,2OO,O0O will have to be en-
tirely expended in repairing its losses. IL is Imost
childish 10 express opinion; but when the damage
on al the lines is considered both of public aud pri
vate property, it can scarcely be reckoned at loss
than sj,0O0,OOO. Among other losses may be men'
toned the total destruction Of the town Of Weiss
port. in which three hundred houses were swept
awsy--a disaster wholly unexamPled in this coun-
try, and yet only one of tie many Items Of this Gu
INITIATIVE calamity.