Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-04-25

nc ioioNiuS COiliihuuiCdllOnl IN reference
to the advantages of this city as coal ship
ping port, and of the new railroad as an
avenue of the coal carrying trade, we cut
from the Potisville (Pa.) Standard
PniLApELrmlA, April 0. 1867,
EDiToRs STANDARD The proposed building
OF the Wilmington and Reading Railroad having
already produced some excitement in thi: city and
in Schuykill county, your readers will no doubt
which concerns them so deeply.
wilmington, the terminus of this road, is de-
lllghtfuly situated, surrounded one-half by roll
ing country, the other half by water. It stands
on rising grounds gradually slopins to Its watery
bounds. For miles On the East, an extensive view
of the Delaware is had, with its tributary streams
the Brandywne and Christana creeks The
city contains about thirty thousand inhabitants,
mostly engaged in manufactures and shp-bnild-
ing,and as matter Of course consumes consider
able coal during the year. But the amount of
coal consumed there is Of minor importance when
compared with the great natural facilities which
that point affords as u place for shipping coal to
the Eastern and Southern markets. The Chris
tiana creek furnishes safe harb0r, with dcpth
Of water varying from fourteen to eighteen feet
and wharf frontage sufficient TO ship us much
coal annually as is now shipped from our own
city. The distance from this city to the city of
wilmington, by way of the Delaware river is over
forty iles--that istaking the Richmond wharves
us the starting point-and the distance from the
lhintH W W llulluptpn ABOUT Tie same IL Is
from the mines to Port Richmond therefore The
advantages of our sister city as a shipping point
are perfectly obvious Freights could be had at
That point, to Eastern and Southern ports ut
twenty-five to fifty cents ton less than is charged
Tor vessels going up to Richmond. Everything
else being equal, the saving OF twenty-five or fifty
cents ton by the miner or shipper, would enable
him to work his collieries, while the Richmond
shipper, II he worked at all, would have to do SO
for nothing Again, the Delaware river below
this city Is closed up with ice good part of the
winter season, so much to obstrict nayiga-
ton. The Christiana creek is very seldom closed
up with ice during the winter. and very little at
lention on the part of the city authorities would
Keep 1t open to navigation during the coolest part
oil the winter, and thus the operators could mine
prepare, and send to market their coal all through
the winter season, whereas now nothing is done
but dead work.
The Wilmington and Reading Railroad could be
extended to the Schuylkill region at n much less
cost than the roads that are already there; and
therefore coal could be transported 10 the point Of
rcshipment TO the Eastern and Southern markets
at considerably less price than is now charged
by the different roads penetrating the coal region
aud pay as high dividends as any corporation
ought to pay.
What the Schuylkill coal region now needs is
cheap transportation to the New York market, so
That her producers can successfully compete with
the three great coal companies thut now regulate
the prices Of coal each month.
Efficient engineers are about to begin the loca-
ton oil The wilmington and Reading Railroad
and assurances are given that the work will be
pushed with all possible dispatch But this rail-
road, TO begin at BirdsborO', can never amount to
anything, for the simple reason that it would have
to depend upon the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad for its through freight, which dcpen-
dence would eventually absorb the whole line
then the Schuylkill county operator would be no
better OF than he Is now.
| To extend the Wilmington and Reading Rail-
road to Pottsyle, requires more capital than that
Company now have subscribed. The coal oper-
ators of Schuylkill county ought to become heavy
Stockholders in this new road, In order TO have n
voice in its management. Being peculiarly in
| terested In the road, they will have voice In its
management and cam in great measure, regu-
| late and control the prices Of transportation to
| the seaboard. Under the present management of
the different lines entering the anthracite coal re-
| gion, there is q eat uncertainty in buying and
selling coal. No intimati0n Is given to the oper-
ator when the tolls on coal are to be lowered or
| Increased. And, again, the auction sales which
take place in New York monthly are constantly
used by the middle men in Philadelphia to de-
| press the price of Schuylkil coal, all of which
may be traced back to the policy of the Transport
u''lon companies AT the present time these auc-
oh safes control the price OF Schuylkill coal and
we result Is, that often the Schuylk operator
does not get within fifty cents or a dollar n ton of
,ne cost o. production. This state OF things can
DC Iemeuieu by the construction of this new road
anu IL proper arrangements are made by the pnr-
Ties most interested, it can be accomplished. More
pnon. QUAKER CITY.