The New York herald., 1871-02-24

Several interesting questions arise ont OF the pre-
sent state OF affairs, and one OF these s:--"Why
NOT ret coal from somewhere elseT' The answer To
this and to many pu2zilng nteroQaores Is tnat tho
coal Ia PENNSYLVANIA is anthracite, ana that in
Maryland bitumous. For The most part, the work
inc people OF this city could not think OF using in
tneir small stoves, and within the small enclosure
Of their dwellings the soft smoky coal which comes
frem Maryland. The owners OF the Cumberland
mines are at present doing largely increased busi-
ness In this city owing 20 the troubles IN Pennsyl-
vanla, but not among the consumers OF stove or
chestnut coai efner of which is in ordinary use for
cooking purposes. The price OF even Cumberland
coal has advanced within the past few DAYS from
seven 10 eight dollars ton. IN consequence OF the
increased demand for 1t by manufactures, steam
Doats and other places where steam Is required in
Since the first alarm IN connection with the coal
famine there have been all sorts ci specuaOns con-
members OF Congress have received threatening
messages IN regard to the subject, and many we'll
known citizens have been interviewed There has
AN ABoLlTIoN OF DUTY
when means It Is TO be presumed, the abolition OF
coal coming from the BRUSH American r4 provinces in
A very erroneous idea prevails in regard to This
matter. and all merchants familiar with the coal
fact that the coal that comes from
not ut to be used for ordinary household purposes.
Were the tax taken or II would simply place Nova
Scotla IN easy Gompetitlon with our own state OF
even tile tax were not barrier against the sale OF
British Amertc coal in this city, and sup
now IN the city, what good could II do
IN the present emergency. II could render no help
that could not be rendered by the Cumberland coal,
OF which There Is plenty in the market at eight dol
lars q ton, ana the price OF which has been uni
Iormy AZ about thai figure for the last three years
the existing state Of affairs in the city but to "grin
anc Dear' the terrible innction, roughly as 1t
be prepared for the worst and the HERALD re-
porter mat ne might speak ntelligently to HERALD
readers this morning. interviewed some OF the prn-
clDal wholesale coal dealers In the City Yesterday
The information he received, put IN a nutshell may
be stated in Q few words, but they are words OF
serious importance, and mean this, that there Is IN
this city at present tio gtNa8 4sa
+, COAL. ENOUGH FOR FOUR DAYS ONLY,
and what Is to be done then no one could give even
ply was placed was So 900 tons and it be stated
THAT the average consumption OF coal in this city for
day Is estimated at 10000 TONS There is probably,
besides the $4,000 tons above alluded to,
about $4,000 tons. or perhaps less, lying
port Port Johnston or Hoboken, which are the
shipping depots for the Pennsylvania coal trade III
connection with this city, The supply III the mar
ket, stated above Is marked TO the very highest
figure. Remembering this deartn and the sad con-
sequences which must ensue II there does
not come some speedy relief to the poor
attention may be called TO the fact, Which
The reporter learned rom various sources
ye.tsraay mat =, the wetoao who are W Wen sup
few days rushing 10 the dealers and ordering large
quantities OF coal lest the famine might oyertake
Them. Thisis
MOST UNJUST TO THE POORER PEOPLE,
whose means 90 not permit them to purchase In
larger quantitis than may be used from day
template not serving large orders. and in this they
are to be comm ended; II the prospects OF an end
Monday, ertanly coal will be sold IN this city In the
beg.n' Ing OF next week ct the enormous price OF
anthracite coal can be had then at that figure.
III speaking yesterday with few gentlemen who
had just come from the mining regions the reporter
n "a ii w hot fnNa nf
an immediate settlement Of the difficulties now
pending. There are parts Of the State whore the
money as in others, but still by far the majority
have been very comfortably Oh, especially IN the
any M @ sne sU o,s anas own ta ns
tages and have little spot OF land. which they Gull
tvate. But even IN the poorer districts 10 which
such favorable circumstances were not abundant
the men had their say mgs banks In which to deposit
MOST REMARKABLE FACT
that very little money has been drawn ont Of the
banks by the men, The grocery and other stores
give them uyiiimred credit, and VIII continue to do
SO without any alarm Of ultimate delalcations. Re-
memberng that there are IN all between thirty and
forty thousand men strike all dong nothing, YET
of receiving adequate compensation for the SER
wee wees they render their employers, the vast
at all but noutshing pace Just now: and there
Is no knowing what brewing harm may
come rom . 'ns no great , strike OF tue swartay
Scotch or Weshmen, and very Intelligent contrivers
OF using the weapons the Union places at
their disposal But With the railroad companies
and the mining companies arrayed against them
they cannot hold out much longer than about three
months. II may he useful TO know that, even IL to-
morrow the entire mining apparatus OF the great
coa fields Were 10 be taken up for resumption Of
WORK, pr3oaoy Two S wees 81 Should elapse before
the first supplies given should necessarily be to the
furnaces and lines. o TlTb fq GA %hse-1
famine and not only this city but all the cities ard
towns in the vicinity OF New York. The same dread
Is as keenly felt-as here 10 huge lotham, Where the
clamor for coal in day or two will no doubt
originate sensation OF the most novel kind, and
one too thai will have only far too many regretu,
surroundings 10 be laughable. What is TO be done 7
v.at the Workingmen Say ON the Subject.
JEDDo, Feb. 81, 1871
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
BY your permission we the undersigned, commit
tee of Jeddo Branch OF the M. and L. B. Association
will now resume cur communication relative to the
suspension or strike. And for fear the public should
lose sights OF the facts contained in our last letter
with reference to the miners wages, we will
quote them again. He, the miner, according to
mis- agreement with the operator. should have
55 cents per ton when coal Is selling for S. per ton
in the market, and 10 cents per ton advance when
coal advances 81 per ton, ana ne (the mlner) does
not wish the coal 10 command higher price than SIS
per ton AZ the seaboard, as he (the mner thinks
this fair living price; but The miner actually gets
but So cents per ton instead the 55 cents as per
agreement.
We think this statement ought to convince the
public tina; the miner Is not responsible for the sus-
pension or Tor the high prices palu for coal IN
market. AS stiil further proof, we give az extract
of letter written In New York to the anthracite
Monitor on the 18th ult.,.. to tile effect that
no miner or operator shall have the benefit
of the ADVANCE price now ruling in tie
market Tney the railroad companles), have
advanced the tolls from Wnkesbarre to Port john
SON ar vyl.c an 80 rs
before suspension and the way tolls four cents per
mile per ton. This looks as II they the railroad
companies intend TO force prices still higher and
coal is now at the exorbitant price OF Sl2 per ton:
and, by the way. the operators and railroad compa-
panes are one and the same SET OF men. 93
save ask the public again to Judge who are the con.
spiraiors, or II this act OF these monoposts is not
direct conspiracy against the NJ. and l.. B. A. and
the consuming public alsos The object OF tins CON
spiracy on me part of the railroad and iron COM
panies is 10 break up the M. and L. 3. A.. and the
consumers must remember that IT is not
the miner alone who they are opnressing,
but the laborer and Others whose woik Is even more
difficult and quite as dangerous while their com
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