The New York herald., 1869-09-20
CHEAP COAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Having observed the zeal With which the HERALD
has for some time past urged the repeal Of the duty
COAL not from any desire to please or benent the
miners Of Great Britain Nova Scotia, but as an act
OF simple justice TO our own people, have been led
to inquire carefully into the matter, to ascertain to
what extent the abolition OF the duty would really
benefit the American public whose rights and neces.
stiles you always so ably and warmly advocate.
beg to lay the result OF my investigations before you
for such use as you may deem At
1t has frequently been asserted that, even with the
duty taken on, Nova Scotia coal could not be re.
tailed for very much less than anthracite now Is,
ana that It could not be imported by the cargo for
manufacturing purposes to compete with Cumber.
SOs sIs this IS not
true, a. can be easily proved. Even at the present
r1S wHsH s Ss 10 y ea Ss4 SSy on S
one 81 our leading houses informs me that they are
prepared to deliver at this port the cele-
or Che welH Known Sydney coal, OF seven dollars per
ton of 240 pounds, when taken In quantities OF 100
aood Goals can be- furnished at even lower
prices. II the duty were taken OF entirely, s. to
IS so would be deemed fair prices Now, Mr. Editor,
sions:-If Nova Scotia Goals were admitted free Of
duty our manufacturers steamboat companies and
SHsr ana IN
use TO the provincial Goals and thereby greatly de-
crease the demand for the domestic Goals, which are
now selling at such extorAonate figures. The Pic.
tou coal has been used for forty years as an excel
lent coal for use In the manufacture Of iron, glass;
gas &o aud ia still used to considerable extent par.
Ncularly in the New England States though the heavy
duty imposed since the abrogatton Of the reciprocity
treaty has conspired to lessen the importation
seventy ave to eighty per cent The sydney coal is
also well known "a an excellent steam or house
COAL while the other Goals alluded to are more par.
ticuiarly useful In the manufacture OF gas. With
the demand for American Goals very muca reduced,
the prices would fall materially and could not De put
up artfcaly by combinations Of operators or miners,
az they have been the past few years. for the prices
were forced beyond certain point not only would
the large consumers cease to use It, but families OF
all classes, even those who buy but iractlons
Of ton at time, would be found using
sydney and other Nova Scotia Goals. L It oe urged
that these bumlnous Goals not suitable Tor our
stoves and furnaces, but can only be used IN open
CRATES say very true, but With the steam and
manufacturing demand for our domestic Goals re-
moved to great extent prices would probably rule
80 low that anthracite would be retalled a. low or
lower than sydney could be-say at 50 70 SO 90 per
to so that should have no occasion 10 burn nova
Scotia Goals In houses and offices II we did not
wish TO. I think, however, We should dnd open
CRATES coming into much more general use. NO
doubt they are far more healthy and pleasant. AZ
any rate we can see that without the duty foreign
coal would act as regulator and Keep prices down.