The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-10
FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
PHILADELPHIA, March "a, l6t

PHILADELPHIA, March n, looS.
To the EDITOR OF the wosErssxAS's ADvocArs.
The only noticeable feature 10 the coal
trade the past week is the large increase
sent here from Schuylkill County, over the
previous week. The quantity SER bv r. r
and canal, exceeding 10000 tons, being an
increase Of our 10000 tons. There is also
n slight falling of N the receipts from the
Lsbigh region. Taken in all, the receipts
are in excess OF the demand, but as soon as
arrangements are made in reference to the
drawback" the trade will be more buoy
ant. The stock in the seaboard towns is ra-
pidy diminishing, and the demand for home
consumption still continues good, 80 thar at
an early day we may look for a small ad-
vance 10 prices. Prices fur shipment e.
main the same a. previously reported. A
walk along the Richmond coal wharves,
show good stock OF coal, and a large
number Of vessels ready TO load, as soon as
the drawback" are decided upon. II Con-
gress will adjourn at sn early day, and allow
the productive industry OF the country to
recuperate which it cannot do SO long as
they continue to tinker with the currency,
We may then look for brisk demand for
coal. Il is evident to al, that the demand
for coal during the spring ana summer,
must come from factories, rolling mills,
sc, az but little is used for household pur-
poses, and anything tending 10 increase the
demand will meet the hear. approval of
the masses, more especially the mining in
terest, as none is more closely connected /,
or depends 80 much on the manufacturers,
ss the miners. Whilst money commands
the high rates Of interest now demanded ed,
pfn attt Ina ngf lar ard fha an
high rates Of interest will continue sc long
as the people are kept a doubt az to what
will be the next move OF the finance botcheS
ia Congress. In conversation with a dealer
few days ago, the subject OF the small de-
mand for coal was talked Of, be tax ing
the ground that protective tariff on fore 90
goods was the best thing that could be done
to increase the demand Tor coal, as il would
open 40 manufactures, and Keep g. ose run
ming that are now open, thus Increasing the
demand for coal to supply motive power.
After listening TO his glowing eulogies on
the benefits that would arise from protect
arc tariff, referred him to the platform of
principles of the National Labor Union,
ant requested of bin (after he had given it
a careful reading,) his opinion as to what
effect it would have when adopted By the
people Of tle United States. His answer
was, ''that go far AS the money and interest
were concerned, il was absurd, ridiculous,
&C." then pEGpounded to him the follow
ing questions, which, 50 far, be has failed
TO answer, and | would ask the considera-
ton Of all your readers to the same ques-
tionsY II gold ceased to be the currency
Of this country, would it not stimulate trade
by preventing an influx Of foreign goods
II the rate of interest was reduced to IL or
2 per cent, would il not increase the facili-
ties for manufacture to such an extent as to
prevent foreign goods being sold here at
less than we could manufacture them |?
Would foreign goods be brought here to be
cold, if they were not paid for 10 gold or
silyer2