The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-14
Coal for Farmers.

I'm Iit,lr Srwcn mountain we met wagons
vl.n stone coal for IrwiSburg, twenty miles
distant. costing ten cents per b'iShcl ~ the
mine on Little Sew"ll, and selling for thirty
five cents in lcwisbuyG. II burns very well,
and i a good coal for hlacESmiihs. Farther
on, 4, Nonnta in Cove. they only pay five cents
per bnsncI and her" il Is only three cents. l
lind that MI the coal III this direction. Is sold
by the bushel taking twenty eight bushels for
a ION. Though surrounded by the finest Of
forests. all burn coal because of its greater
Ch"apucSS.
The above paragraph, from q correspond
cnt Of the Valley Vuyinian, is quite sug-
gcStive. 1t is true, as stated, that in the
country named farmers are using the coal
from Scwcll mountain, Notwithstanding
that the mountains near them abound in
wood, because they find the coal cheapest.
1t saves vast deal Of labor; and the wood
tha: is most convenient to the best farm
ing lands is needed for fencing. Coal is
essentially an economical fuel, and great
teacher of economy. It's introduction
upon the farm saves time, saves labor, and
promotes comfort. 1t is compact, easily
sheltered, convenient, and handled easily
ny lHc lIIOiC IClIi'So IhSHi"StS VI 'iAN
family.
In considering the new system Of
economy that must necessarily bc pursued
in Virginia, we must look to the use OF
coal as IN important item. 1t is all the
more 50 because the war has swept away
the forests, and in some parts Of the State
1oc l.t, for tpDpiur
In this view Of the Importance of this
incomparably advantageous fuel to the ru-
raj districts the Chesapeake and Ohio
road derives additional consequence.
Piercing the great kanawha coal basin, it
will become the conduit Of the trade in
the magnificent coal OF that region, giving
to the ciS-montanc country of Virginia the
great blessing Of an abundant supply there
from. 1t will traverse line Of four hun
drcd miles, and may, by the help Of the
nc;glborhood lateral transportation, sup
ply district twenty miles broad, itself
being the centre Of il. This would en-
brace an immense population. Then, at
Stanton and Charlottesville this coal
could DC taken up by divergng lines and
scattered throughout the Valley and Pied
mont country. ~ Covington, again, large
quantities could he sent by canal, supply
ing al! the rich valley Of James river down
to Richmond. lie; us remember, too, that
this kanawila coal is light, or, al least, the
camel coal, while both the camel and
splint Goals afford an unusual amount Of
flame and heat for their bulk.
We thus see that the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad may be the means of sup
plying almost every district OF Virginia,
now especially in need Of coal, with the
very best that is known in the United
States and, we are sure, at reasonable
prices. If it may now be had at eighty
two cents per ton at the mines, we cannot
see why il may not be delivered at Char
lottcsvilc for five or six dollars per ton,
and III this city ut a price not much above
that.
1t is probable the tidal demand and the
consumption OF this city will be fully equal
to the product Of the mines of this region;
and il will be u great relief to this locality
10 be assisted by the supplies from ka-
nawha. The Importance Of the coal trade
from the Kaiuwla is alone sufficient 10
impcl us to the early completion Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.