The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-02-18
Bitn mia0ns Coal.

Unlike the oil wells Of Pennsylvania and Cam
ada the coal fields produce and unfailins source
Of revenue without running dry, and lucky Is
the man who has well located claim. From q
Pittsburg letter to the Boston Journrl In rela-
ton to the Bituminous co Of Pennsylvania We
learn that Speaker Blaine has valuable inter
est there, which is a source Of great income.
We are glad such good fortune Is the lot Of our
distinguished fellow citizen
"A word from the centre Of the bitumlnous coal
region may be Of interest to your readers at this
time, when so much is said about the repeal Of
the duty ON the competing article from Nova
Scotia. have recently visitel almost the en-
tire area covered by the mines In active opera
ton in this vicinsge, and what strikes me as
strange is the absolute Indifference Of the btu
minous coal owners to the repeal or retention Of
the duty. In the eastern part Of Pennsylvania,
where the anthracite interest prcdominates, q
great deal of hostility is manifested to the TO
peal, because II Is the anthracite that will rtal-
ly feel tire competition when the Provincial coal
is admitted free Of duty. But hereabouts there
is apparent carelcssness on the subject, while
many of the landing coal owners do not hesitate
to favor the repeal. Gen. Moorhesd, 10 long
the able Representative In Congress from this
district, voted four years ago, when the Recip-
rocity Treaty was terminated, to continne coal
on the fSe list, and though some fruit was fun |
with him by the Pennsylvania papers, his con-
stitutency approved his course, for he was i'm
mediately afterwards re-nominatel and reelected
by large majority. The truth is, that the
market for the bituminous coal Of Western
Pennsylvania is South and West, and the little
that goes East Is merely for the manufacture Of
gas, and the total amount is 50 small that were
il all cut oil II would not affect the value Of coal
property single penny. The only party in
terest that would lose would be the railroads,
that get comparatively large income from the
transportation. but the coal owners per Sc don't
care fs about 1t.
The btuminous mines are confined principal
ly to the valleys of the Monongahela, and the
Youghioghcny, and the westmoreland Fields,
that lie along the valley Of the Concmaush.
The three valleys present probably the most
magnificent coal area in the world. The con.
sumption is increasing enormously, and the prod
uct Of course keeps pace with the demand. The
amount sen. to market this year cannot fall short
Of three millions Of tons. The consequence of
this increased demand is q steady, large and
rapid advance in the value Of coal lands. In
decl, so far rs can learn, they have, in favored
localities, increased from five TO ten fol In value
within the past ten years. Mr.. Hayes and Mr..
Brown Of Pittsburgh, the two coal kings Of the
Mouongahela valley, have large tracts that are
worth thousand, twelve hundred, and, In some
Instances, as high US fifteen hundred dollars per
acre. General Moorhesd, Of whom have just
spoken, owns several large tracts or great value,
in one Of which the late Secretary Stanton had
at one time valuable interest. These tracts
were bought many years since, and have 70 adj
yanced that Gen. Moorhead is reckoned among
the nillionaires Of Pittsburgh. Among the finest
tracts ia the whole valley is one Of several hun
drel acres owned by Speaker Blaine Of Maine,
acquired, as learn, partly by inheritance, but
mostly purchased in 1867 and 1858, when coal
property was so fearfully reduced In value by
the great financial storm Of that period. The
advance in the value Of this tract is said to be
enormous. 1t is quite adjacent to the speakers
birthplace, forming, hear, part Of the old fam
lily homestead. George W. Cas-, President Of
the Fort Wayne Railroad, one Of the most emf
nent business men Of Western Pennsylvania, Is
also large owner Of coal tracts In the valley.
lie and John l.. Dawson, 20 long n Democratic
Representative In Congress from this section, and
General Moorhead were originally and largely
interested in improving the navigation Of the
hlonongahela, an enterprise which did them
great honor and conferred untold benefits on the
material interests OF this section, while II un.
doubtedly largely enhanced the values Of their
own coal property