Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-05-17

T,et them answer to themselves, their
country and their God in the great day.
Mr. STRANG, desire to vote under
standingly on this question and in order
TO do so, | desire to ask the gentleman
from Northumberland question. This
bill provides, simply, that this company
shall have the privilege of mining coal OH
their own lands. Now, to understand how
the constituents Of the gentleman from
Northumberland are to be untavorably
effected by this provision
Mr. BROWN, Northumberland, ! will
answer the gctlcman, There are num-
Der of my constituents who own lands ,ad-
Joining the land on which it is proposed
to locate this road. It's their intention,
after while, when times become better,
to open mines in that country, and as
matter Of course, their means OF getting
their coal to market will depend entirely
upon this road. Thay will be compelled
to pay whatever amount of freight the
company may see proper to charge. If
this company engage also in mining coal
they will have such an advantage over
private operators as must prove almost de
structive to the latter. As have said, l
cannot see where would be the consistency
of passing this bill, when we this morn
ing passed a joint resolution calling upon
the Attorney General to take measures for
annullng the contract giving the Della
ware and Hudson canal company the right
to mine coal.
Mr.. ROSS, Luzerne. The action of the
Fl ouse this morning was only for the pur-
pose of authorizing the Attorney General
to test the validity of the contract between
the Delaware and Hudson canal company
and the Pennsylvania coal company. Ii
involved nothing about mining at all
Mr.. BROWN, Northumberland, | have
the exact words of The resolution here
1t was resolution requiring the Attorney
General to institute proceedings to repeal
the charter or annul the contract of the
Delaware and Hudson canal company and
the pennsylvania coal company, on ac.
count of thecr charter giving them the
privilege of mining coal.
Mr.. STRANG. Where companies thus
mino coal and conflict with the interests ol
individuals, docs it amount to anything
more than the ordinary competition be-
tween owners of lands who wish to oper
ate and loimprove them?
Mr.. BROWN, Northumberland, Where
transporting companies are allowed the
privilege Of mining coal, it gives them al
advantage over private operators, from
the fact that they can ship their coal tc
market and underscll private operators
because the company may exact from th, SC
private operators very heavy freight Oh
their coal.
cannot understand why gentlemen
should desire to pass this bill i'll spite Of
our protest, when it is an entirely loca
bill affecting my constituents, and those o
the gentleman from Columbia, Mr.. TATE
Mr. MYERS. 1t appears to me tina
the objections to this bill might be obviatcd
and all parties Accommodated, by fixing il
the bill the rate at which the railrord com
l,an ha al &c
ties owning land in the same locality Will
the land owned by the railroad company
Mr.. BROWN, Northumberland. /
, the bill were amended in that manner,
would not object to it.
Mr. ROSS, Luzorne had not inten
dcd, Mr.. Speaker, to say anything in re
gard to the merits of this bill. was rcall
surprised to hear my colleag4 4e from Lu,
zerne Mr.. Russell, talk as he did. Why
} sir, Luzerne county has been made, a.
that it is by just such operation as ar
contemplated in this bill--by the owner
. of coal lands being allowed to make .atero
railroads to transport their coal to markc
| suppose that the gentleman has heard c
l Mauch Chunk. What made it what it
: but allowing company to mine coal an
5 transport it down to Lchigh? What is
that has built up IIazlcton, the place wher
my colleague resides ? 1t would hay
been perfect wilderness but for just sue
i operations as my colleague now opposes
} What made Carbondale and Scranton, BIT
r the operation of these companies that wer
allowed to mine coal on their own land
/ and transport it to market SO | nigh
= name twenty or thirty instance in ou
: valley where companies have had the priv
d ilege of making lateral rail roads to tran.
j.. port their coal to market. Why it is b
o the operation of just such companies thu
Luzerne county has become the fourth c
b, fifth county in Pennsylvania, tceming wit
Industry and wealth. The wilderness hf
~ beer made to blossom as the rose. I'll
e gentleman from Columbia, Mr.. Tate, tall
6 about his constituents being ruined by sue
- measures as this. do not know VIII