Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-12
COAL.
Sources Of las SuppIy-Priees Paid In
NRshVIlIe-COaI Yards-Present Sup
ply on Hand, etc.

Sources Of las SuppIy-Priees Paid In
NashvIlIe-COaI Yards-Present sup
ply ON Hand, etc.
There is perhaps no article of universal
consumption and demand, the price of
which is more Anetuating, and dependent
upon more contingencies than the article
of coal. This is the case net only in
Nashville, but in all cities where large
quantities of coal are used. This Auctu-
alton of prices is caused more from the
contingent interferenees Of transportation
in bringing the coal from the mines, than
from any deficiency in the supply of the ar
ticle. We have accessible TO our city the
Cumberland coal mines, up the Cumber-
land river, and the Hoskins mines, yield
ing a superabundance Of coal, and of a
very excellent quality. The supply from
these mines is dependent, however, upon
the precarious and uncertain navigation of
the Cumberland river, which during the
last season has been for the most part en-
tirely suspended. There is also the Sewanee
mines, approached by the Nashville and
Chattanooga railroad, and the Ohio river
coal, which is used here only in very limit
ed quantities.
Our main reliance for the article is by the
Cumberland river, and when its navigation
is suspended the supply necessarily becomes
short. Though we have some six coal
yards and offices in the city, in spite of
every exertion the supply gave almost en-
tirely out during the last cold snap which
is to some extent still upon us, and but for
the timely arrival Of coal on yesterday our
people would have been reduced to calami-
tous straits for fuel. This should be warn
ing 10 those who are able to do 30, to lay
in sufficient supply and be prepared for
emergencies whenever the opportunity pre-.
sents. Prospects now are that we are to
have full supply. Two barges of the
Cumberland coal reached our wharf on
yesterday, belonging to P. B. Mason & Co,
who have FIVE other barges just above and
coming down with the present rise. If they
reach here without accident this company
will have near $4,000 bushels of very fine
coal on the market, which they propose de,
liyering from the wharf TO any part of the
city after Monday at S. so per load.
Two large barges of coal, containing
near $4,000 bushels of coal, belong.
ing to Jasper, Brien & Co., also reached
the wharf on yesterday. Besides these
barges. a railroad train bringing some
$4,000 bushels from the SeWanee mines
also reached here. Those arrivals on
Yesterday of this coal were most oppor4
tune. as there was not busnel at any of
the yards. The various coal offices were
literally besieged on yesterday morning
by persons importuning for any quantity
that could be furnished from a scuttle full
to load they could not be furnished
with any quantity.
Mr.. Roach, of the Office of Mason & Co.,
No. "a North Cherry street, is confident
now of his ability to supply the market
henceforth with good coal and at lower
figures than it has hitherto beer furnished
during the season. On the arrival of the
barges at the wharves yesterday, the levee
was Immediately lined with carts anxious
to procure a supply.
The price of coal has varied during the
season from Sc so to So for round, and
from So to $40 for lump per load, and we
have heard frequent complaints at the
shortness of the loads at these figures.
There should be conformity of quantity
among dealers in the size of the loads, and
a generous rivalry as TO who should OF
could sell the cheapest. In this, as in all
articlesofimperative necessity, there should
| be the utmost fairness between dealers and
consumers. We congratulate our people
on the timely arrival of a coal supply, and
their opportune escape from a threatened
f,a1 foYy1ina