Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-11-02


bounds. ws shotld q tSss nineteen twen--
tieths Of aIt the fuel spusuusd in the cities
Of Davenport, Rock Island, Moline, and Iowa
City, is coal-all Of which has to come from
the Coal Valley mines. Few persons real
ize the extent Of this business, or how much
it takes to supply The denand, and many
will be astonished when W state that the
present demand is 400 tons, Of 10 900 bush.
els per day, and even 500 tons per day
xould 6nd . market at this time were it
possible to produce it. But the fact Of the
case is, that instsad Of being able to supply
the 400 tons We are informed by the coal
authorities here that Mr. Cables vorkmen
at Coal Valley are mining but 800 tons per
day, or $500 bushels less than the actual
demand right among M. Cables regular
customers in the towns above named
What is the results Why, there is panic
in the market, produced BY the scarcity
Orders At the coal Offices here and in other
places are whole week-or 600 tons ahead
Of the supply. The imp assable state Of the
roads has cut off al supply bv wagon, and
matters begin to look rather DARK for consul
mers Mr. Cable has recently made an ex-
traord,nary effort to check this panic, and in
order to do 80 has offered his miners greater
Inducements in the way Of advanced wages
in order to stimulate them to greater exer-
tions, hoping. thereby to increase the supply
At lelst 80 tons per day, If not moro. To
meet this extra expense he has been oblig-
ed to advance the price Of coal two cents
per bushel This advance we arc assured
is but temporary, snd will be put back just
as soon IS the present panic is over, and the
market can be fairly supplied. In view Of
these facts it is not 20 b. presumed that the
public will take my exceptions to thus ad.
vance, but will cheert"lly accede to it rath-
er than have their supplies cut of, or have
to wait week or ten days to get their i'm.
mediate necessities Supplied.
Were Mr.. Cable so disposed at this crisis.
We can easily see how he could readily real
ize one thousand dollars per day upon hi.
present supply, by increasing the price,
The people must have coal, aud rather than
60 without would pay 40 cents per bushel
for oil he can bring to market. But We
congratulate the public that such is not his
policy. lie appreciates the magnitude Of
his business. and the immense responsible
ty Of the situation; and in which he is placed
in supplying fifty thousand people with their
winters fuel, and holds the prices Of his coal
at such figure as will yield him only ajust
percentage on his capital invested. He has
the means on his grasp to amass . splendid
fortune in two years from supplying coal,
but he prefers rather to receive slow and
sure gains than to make sudden fortune
by cruel extortion.
No one customer can now get more than
90 bushels at time, until this panic is over.
Sharp games have lately been played by
outside spectators that have compelled
stringent rules. For instance men go to the
Rock Island yard and under false represent
atoms that such a we'll known citizen or
miller wants load of coal. 1t is weighed
out a. 16 cents per bushel and in less than
an hour the same load is sold on our levec
at 2S or so cents; the same team with anoth
er teamster goes back with . plaus-
ible story and makes another extor-
ton. So with the yard at the depot.
Loads of coal have recently been taken
from there under plea Of great extremity,
and sold Immediately on the levee at great
ly advanced price. This is cruel extortion,
and We are glad to learn that great precau
TINS are being taken at the yards to pre-
vent it. All the coal that can be mined
will be divided up equally between the
places above newfoundland sold at tho
regular rates, which are yet below the prices
of last year at this time. There will con-
sequently be no further advance, but q de-
cline, just as soon as this panic is over.
We have spoken Of this matter thus at
length because We felt that IN explanation
was necessary, that people should know the
reason for the present scarcity and the con
sequent advance.
NorIcE.-The card Of the General Conn
mission house Of John P. Boyle L Co.. A
Broadway, N. Y, appears IN another col
umn. This is among the first class houses
in Tho limo IN tha Mctroool;a and huc;ooso