Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-28
THE COAL QUESTION.

When remarked the other day, that in the severe
winters of this latitude fuel is the thing that stands
between the human and death, hardly dwelt with
sufficient emphasis the almost boundless extent OF the
magazines of coal laid up the earth under our feet to
supply this great necessity So large are these deposes
destined for the comfort Of the human race through an In
definite series of centuries yet to come, that coal should
be of the cheapest of the necessarles Of HE Sir
Charles Lye that the coal lands OF the United States
larger extent than all Great Britain That coal
ought to be as cheap ii 10 abundant country is
manifest from this circumstance that before the war 1t
was mined and taken from the Pennsylvania quarries at
the rate of from forty 10 sixty cents ton aud that at
Carbondale only year since it was delivered at the
doors of the workmen for dollar the large ton consist
ing of 2,240 pounds
Who are they that stand between Providence and the
poor In this matter and Illustrate tho beuecencs of nature
Winter is upon u.s. and the coal which obtained for
almost nominal price the places where it's raised from
the eartha price low that for few dollars the poorest
mao might keep his crate at white heat all winters
held at famine prices when reaches New York aud other
cities.
so dear is it that many in this city who would other
wise be able live with comfort must endure great
suffering from cold or if they part with their earnings for
coal must be pnchei with hunger, unwiDgly depend
the charity of their richer neghbor Cross the Canada
frontier and you hear nothing OF this rghtfui dearh OF
fuel little while since Liverpool coal sold 10 the
Quebec market for four dollars the large ton In Great
Britain where the coal fields far less extensive than
here the poor not he'd by such artificial dearth
of fuel At Liverpool the best Orrel coal now brings FIX
teen shngs sterling for the ton OF 240 pounds which
is but four dollars the price having risen considerably
within short time past
When to inquire into the reason why anthra
cite coal cheap at mines Pennsyvsnia, held
aG such exorbtan price when it reaches our market
End that three powerful transportation companies the
shareholders of which large tracts of the coal lands
obtained almost entire control Of the coal trade
and are able to demand any price that may suit their
fancy. These companies control the channels oy
which the supply Of GOAL reaches the market and x the
price at its present exorbant and oppressive rate There
are extensive coal lands t il true which these compa
nes have interest but the propreors are entirely at
the mercy of the companies notwithstanding. The
high duty imposed coal by the tariff recently enacted
dscourSges the importation OF foreign COAL and makes the
monopoly they possess stl more profitable.
Ii 10 curious 10 the successive additions to the
price Of anthracite coal Purchase II at the mines and
costs you 90 the Of 2240 pounds When it gets to
Mauch Chunk, distance of twenty mes from the mines
the price ia from SO ~ to $425 the a;ge ton Another
stage it's progress brings it to New York and there
costs 81 for the small ton Of 900 pounds
This subject deserves the serious attention both OF the
State Legislatures and Of the Federal Congress Congress
should consider whether the mining companies ought any
longer 10 have the advantage of the bgh duty which so
greatly fayors their monopoly The State Legislatures
should interfere ia favor of their constituents and compel
the transportation companies to coal at reasonable
rate for individuals and perhaps limit their annual profits
to moderate per centsge on their capital
Ne1o York Epenisg Posi-