The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-07
ANTHRACITE.
The Beginning @


A correspondent, the Hon. H. b. Wright,
of Wilkesbarre, Pa, writes as follows to the
New York Iri6ane:-
wish, through you, to vindicate history
as to the commencement of the anthracite
coal trade. The statistical tables heretofore
published represent the coal trade as begin
ming in 1920, with shipment that year of 120
tons by the Lehigh and Delaware rivers to
Philadelphia. inclose you herewith an Ac-
count Current of Messrs Price, Waterbury
q Co, of New York of February l, 1918,
with Messrs. Abijah Smith & Co., of Plym-
outh, in this county, five miles below Wilkes
barre, having the receipts of two cargoes of
coal, its sale, and the names of the purchasers
The coal descended the Susquehanna, in
arks, to Baltimore, and thence by sea to New
York. AS this AcoOunt Current is an an
cient paper, and contains the names of some
of the early New York merchants, 1 hope you
may have the space to publish it entire.
Abijah and John Smith, from Bridgeport,
Conn, were the pioneers of the coal trade.
They came to this valley in 1908, and from
that time they yearly mined and sent coal to
market till their respective deaths. Abijah
died probably about 1926, and John several
years afterward. I knew them both we'll;
and, for the first two years after coming here,
they boarded with my father, who resided
near their mines. One of the same mines
now own.
The mineral, in their deeds of purchase, is
described as 'pots of COAL" While coal had
been used here for smith purposes, before
1908, it had not been sent elsewhere. Judge
Jesse Fell of this place is entitled to the
merit, that same year, of the discovery of
burning it in CRATE without an air blast
and that same CRATE is still to be seen here.
You will thus see the ecommencementsof the
coal trade was some time before 1920, as the
present tables exhibit. address this note to
you, knowing as well as approaching your
care and attention in selecting and preserving
statistics of the trade, business, and general
events of the country, and in the hope that
| so important matter as the coal trade may
be properly registered, am, sir, your very
| obedient, HENDRIcK B. WRIGHT.
WmKEsBARRE, Penna., March %, 1870.
NEW YORK, Feb, 1s1s-Messrs. Abjah Smith &
| CO.-Gentlemen: :-Having lately taken view OF the
| business we have been conducting for you this
some time past, we have thought it would be crafty
ing TO have the account forwarded, and therefore
present you with summary OF 1t up to the 18th
January 1918, containing first the quantity OF coal
sold and to whom; second, the amount OF cash paid
by US from time to time; third the amount OF inte-
rest, cash, on the previous sums advanced, the
credit OF interest on sums received; and, lastly
| the quantity OF coal remaining on hand unsold
Should you on the receipt Of this md any OF the
/ items Incorrect we need hardly observe that the
knowledge OF such an errer will be corrected with
| the greatest pleasure. AS it respects our future
/ place OF procedure, we Sndll expect 10 see one o.
| your concern in the city some time in the spring
| when u new arrangement may be fixed upon. Oul
endeavors to establish the character OF the Goa
shortly to dispose OF the remaining parcels OF Goa
| unsold.
| 1872
| June s.-By cash OF Doty q Willets for
BY cash Of John Wilmington for t'''' "
| chaldrons coal al.................... 1000
| BY cash OF Coulthaid IL Son for 10
| chaldrons coal. al.................... 200O
BY John Benham's note go daysO
| for 10 chaldrons do. .............. 200'0(
By cash OF G. p. Lorrilard for
chaldron coal, al,......,............ 2O'Ot
BY, cash OF j. ]. Wilson for chal-
June 1sBy S cash '0S Of Doty wiilets for 0OV
chaldrons coal. .................. lOOO
By cash OF G. P. Lorrllard for IN
| chaldrons coal. al.................... 230O
ByA Frazyer's note 900 days9 for
| 26 chaldrOnS coal. ..........,... 415O
| BY cash received OF Il. Coulthard
| for chaldrons coal. ............. 100O(
| BY M. Womas's note 900 days0 for
20 chaldrons coal ............... 5000
By half-measurement, received for
| 1920 bushels. els...................... 6'3
ByB Ward and 7. Blagge for IL
| chaldrons at S20................. 25O
By WttiRgham for ~ chaldrons
June 96-By Plrpont for \ chaldron coal. -. ITO
BY Mr. Landz for n chadron COAL. 1870
at Sq2 per chal. ................... $3.50
| Sept. 16-By cash for u chaldron coal ....... 1875
oct 9-By William 6olman for n chaldron
BY Oi; Sexton Williamson for IL iN0
chaldrons coal ................... s75
Oct, 24-By cash for chaldron coal. ........ $50
| Oct. 29-By cash for Is chaldron coal. ....... 1876
Nov. I2-By cash for chaldron coal. ........ $50
Nov. 7-By cash for Il chaldron coal. ..... 1926
Nov. 16-By Mr.. A. lie Briton for IL chaldrons
at S2b per chal. al................... 2Sst
, Dec, 5-By cash for K chaldron coal. 49,. 1875
Dec. 11-By cash Of A. Daily for u chaldron
| coal. ..........s... .'''s'''' l1I
Dec. 14-By cash for n chaldron coal. ....... 12f
| 1913.
Jan. 4-By cash for chaldron coal. ...... 26t
, | Jan 1S-By j. Curtz for o bushels coal. ... 61
BY amount OF balance this day.. 1857
! me-, 90 eo1 4