The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-22
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1872.
THECOALQUESTION.

oughly discussed ny oui "'' "e"'
dsy. There are some who are disposed
to be a little "panicky" on the subject
and as is usual in such cases, to forget
that there are two sides to the question
and that the remedy for the evil cons
planned OF is, to some extent, in the
hands of the people themselves. 10
dispense the fears of those who think
there is to be a coal famine in this city
let it be remembered that the cold snap
we are now enduring is not likely
TO be Of long duration. This
exceedingly sharp weather is quite
unusual in this latitude at this
season of the yer and it is not only
probable but almost certain that sever
al weeks OF mild weather will yet In
,e-vene before steady winter sets in. The
predictions of the signal office are not
needed to confirm this belief, because
the experience of years goes to show
that the winter has not yet fairly begun
and that the cold weather of the past
few DAYS cannot be accepted as proof
that winter has already come. Unless
the earth has marvelously strayed rom
its accustomed orbit, we will yet have
several weeks OF com paratively mid
weather.
In addition to thisit must be remem-
bered that the horse disease has now
passed its crisis and must diminish It's
rayages. In several Of the largest
stables in the city the horses are fairly
couyalescent. There were more horses
upon the streets yesterday than the day
before, and there will probably be more
to-day than Yesterday. A few days
will restore these important servants to
their usual health and their accustomed
places, when the prices for hauling will
inevitably come down to the customary
rates 1t seems TO Us that there l.,
therefore, no good reason for the alarm
that is manifested by some OF our citl-
zans and that, instead OF filing their
coal houses and storing up hundreds OF
bushels OF fuel at the present exortitant
rates, they may safely wait for a subs-
dence of the panic and for the return
OF lower prices.
The coal dealers allege that the sick
ness OF the horses has cost them thou
sands OF dollars; that they have been
compelled to purchase oxen at exorbi-
tant prices; that the cost OF shoeing
the oxen, and the price of hay have
beeh increased and that an OK team can
only deliver in a day about half as
much coal as pair q horses. Attic
SsHtedi tRss rt. bfa f9 qiSssffF hays a ad
for two or three loris what was formerly
paid them for four or five; and that no
greater p oft is reapei by the dealer
from his present charge O. twenty cents
per bushel than was formerly real
lied rom eight or nine cents for the
same quantity.
The lesson which the consumers OF
coal in this city have to learn in the
present crisis is simply one Of economy
They can probably manage to consume
lrss coal than usual, AMI they can, 10y
the use OF wheelbarrows, carry from
the coal banks or from boats on the
river or from cars at the depots, enough
cal to supply their necessities without
paying the exorbitant sums demanded
by some of the regular dealers in coal
At the same time, several Of the coal
dealers Lave refused to join in the COM
bination for the advance OF prices and
are still furnishing coal to a. many o.
their customers az they cln supply at
the usual rate. Among these may be
mentioned Mr.. JOHN Nolan. 2. LAUGH
LIN 4 Co, w. MAR'HlLL, a. 4 THOMAS
MAYER, and there are probably others
whose names have not We: been fur
nishei us We give these gentlemen
this gratuitous advertisement because
they have deserved it, and we will be
gal to add to the list the names Of anv
other coal dealers in the city who are
willing u do likewise. Send in your
names, friends, in order that the people
may know who have fairly earned a
title to business patronage in the future.