Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-25
Coal.

| A writer in this mornings Se',tinel makes startling
szposs of our prospects for fuel Tor next winter Coal
now costs si1,y-hVs or seventy dellars load. The
quality is inferior, the quantity deficient TO; more than
taenty bushels to the lead ard even this Vre cAed
stu difficult to procure al any prizes. Should coAl
continue rss as it did last winter, the price in jar.
uary and Feb,ul.y ext will he from one hundred ind
hf.y to two hundred and 1T, densIs load The cor
respondent of the Sentinel pictures the wives and chill
dren of soldiers and the poor geuera ng TO death
in cons qqenes Of the price of fuel AMI urges Governor
Smith 10 convene the gslaure in special session for
H. purpose Ct placing the coal mines III the control
Of toe Safe, just as tue Sale Works have been.
Opposed in general TO the &c ire of private property
BY the ate or Confederate governments, .Verhe.
lees appreciate iOOs of the Arguments adduced by the
writer Il SIT, rec, cotton yarn sad cotton cloth may
be brought within the purchasing power Of the poorer
classes which inclde all sslsred persons Of whatever
grade Of lie) we good reason Why coal Should
not come in the ssms category. Food and clothing will
DO Of little service to people Who are allowed to perish Of
cold in city which may be said TO rest on an lex
haustbls coal mine, and within arms length as it Were
Of forests almost iatorminable. Nor do We see why
coal should maiutan a high price, with the certainty
sites Of life have fallen nearly 100 per cent
Perhaps the following conversation between coal
buyer and a coal dealer, which arc assured good
authority actually occurred in this city few days ago
may throw some Fight on the subject:
Coal Bavsr.-"V hit's the price of coa'?'
Coal dsalsr.-"Six Eve dollars lOsd."
@ B-"Fhs,'s mighty high, an's ii {"
O. Dye; bot it is not my fault; the Company
6xes the pr &C; I ave nothing TO do with it"
O. B. That's fact. Bus you dent ,hink coal viii
be any higher, do you?'
@ D.-'Can't ssyi rather think it will; it all depends
% QUE thing"
O B-"Whats thar"
O D.-"Wbetbsr cid BAnk's store-room is broken
into or o. If the rogues ges any more Of his vine,
loaf sugar. etc coal is bound TO rs; bat If thty let
lin alone why there IL chance that coal may stand at
the present p'ice."
Here is pretty showing. Old Blink is Director,
chief Stakeholder or President OF one Of tbs Arges.
coal mines, and the price Is made to depend on the
greater or e sscrry of his private stores. If his
ioor Is broken OPEN ths public must suffer. The com.
fort Of 100 900 people upon the weak bass of his
own earef, less the negligence Of his servants.
Should he take too much vine at dinner and sleep too
soundly, his butler prove false the numberess potr
Of q great city NUT ire In const renee, For q Q
sake of unsnity must conclude that this converse
ton vas merely OOOse on the part of the coal dealer.
But Il he we're in earnest and the price of cosl does
really depend on the security o: old BlaI ks" locks
and Doors then It will be the bOundeD duty Of the S
zsns Of Richmond assisted by the State and Confederate
60 yernmsns, 10 furnish Old BaDk with night watch,
IL need be- of regiment or brigade Of men. The 81 "
ing Of expense would more than justly this eItraOrd-
nary method Of keeping down tie price of coal
Should il prove, however, fictitious or humorous
conversation, and the truth be las generally Gverred in
such casss) that the stockholders are compelled, for
as,ns which they cannot diVuge TO raise the price
Of coal then We submit it will be the bounden duty OF
the Legislature to take hold Of the matter Sal! used
20 cost dollar and hall or Two dsllars pound now
everybody has an abundance 81 ten cents pound The
SAe It seems, can always overcome obstacles which
are inswmOuntabe to corporations. Should coal sbas
the fAIe Of SAIL and fall to ten cents bushe il will be
poor consolation to those who have fastened to GIL their
eela's at SIX -6Ve dollars bad, aud It will be q
death to the s,oreroOm door Of Old Bank BIT
It will be an immense bsnl6! to the community At
la-ga