New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-02
LIE, 7ERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

HIGH PRICE OF CoAL-A REMEDY sCGGLsILD
To the Bdtfor Of The Tribune.
SIR: During the last few months there nave
been many complaints through the New-iork papers
the high price Of coal, article OF prime necessity
both the rich aud the poor. Charges oil combination anu
extortion against mOHopOliss are made ana he' =!
counter charges Of unjusti1able combinations anu
strikes" ap,one the miners Thesc charges and counter
charges NAV or may be true the fact however, tat
coal rs very dear undisputed remedy ior thls eV
ia OF great concern your vast population, ana IL "ouu
seem that the readiest relief would be III opening up
new and abundant Of supply from locah'es vi
GA ~ access and likely to be brought under the hh
nco NJ exisug rings and combinations IL such there
he The only extensive coaldeds from which you are
not now drawing largely aud which have wafer traiia
those around TINS city. In the counties OF
[C 9UsG Powhrtan aud Goochand, within
If about 10 by 80 miles in extent Most OF this coal
Is btuminous, bu in some Localities halural G9he ol
great excellence is found and within 10 nle Oh ts Guy
an ontcrOp indicates almost certainly the presence OF
vein OF camel coal II il only here ana lhe9, III VIZ m
capital accounts for this Now is not the question OF
chonp fael for NewYok sufficiently important TO lead
necessary to work SEINE Of these ncs Oh scic laIe9
enough to break down the efforts " monopoS,s ald
strikers in Pennsylvania and Marylahd lh0us'Gus .,
Of the richest OF these coal lands may De purchaser
at or below 500 per acre. win canal OF raoau aS I
tatiOR all the year round TO the shipping az lniS
port. An unlimited supply OF negro labor can be Oh,
tanned at low WIGS % that Tho negroes make
AS good coal miners white They work for about
bali tho wages of white miners. an9 as long as they are
promptly paid well fed aud kindly treated, they VIII
enjoy their gang work. aud be perfectly cohtchted ana
happy ,, ---..,-. -.
Ifthe coal consumers Of Ncw-YOrk would organize
great metropolitan coal company, with say million OF
dollars capital limiting the amount that each man might
hold u small to escape tho danger OF ialS
into the hands of the present lngs ana De confer te WIN
u small dividend OF say 10 per cent on tue stock Dus
giving the stockholders preference IN the purchase Oh
cheap coal il hardly to he doubted that an amount OF
could I've thrown upon yeur market AT rates SO low W.
To greatly influence the general price OF co TINS is TIE
only field of the Aleghanies that you can reach Dv
water that is already in the hands OF mohOpOlts
We Lave good anthracite coal beds, too, lew mics
above Dauyic, and about l69 mes from TINS cy lhdt
a small amount of capital would develop, ana from
which the coal could be taken 10 New York as chCapy
as from Pennsylvania. . o.. ~.
IL may he asked what prompts me to invite the aten
ton of your readers 10 this subject The reply H tha
will bring capital To Virginia, open new sources OF wealth
to us interest your people III our material resources
establish business relations and lead To personal ana
political friendships that wh promote The general wei
fare people, aud confer great benefit upon yours
These are sufficient for calling public attention
10 the subject under my own signature, az phDhsh
nothing Anonymously. l. D. lhBoDES'
RichHGHd, Va, Aug %.