Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-28
puR1Ic NEcEssITIEs.

One calamity succeeds another IN
such rapid succession that there IS
scarcely time to look about for remedy
or to suggest measures of relief, until
some other unexpected public necessity
forces itself upon our attention. Yester-
davis LEDGER gave an account Of the de-
structiye accident at our levee whereby
large supply of coal was completely
DESTROYED. A fuel famine seems inev-
table. The supply was not greater than
required before, and the loss Of 225, 900
bushels of coal, which was to supply the
present market, is calamity that Will
be felt by all classes. A few people
always lay in their coal during the
simmer but the number is untor-
tupately small The laboring classes,
the retail dealers, the bone and
sinew class of people, without which
the wild grass would grow 10 our streets,
have little or no coal ahead, and the ex-
treme poor classe have literally none.
Suffering and want stare many people
!, the face who have known usually the
comforts of life. There is not more
than thirty thousand bushels of coal on
The market, and the most of this is al
ready ordered and as good as sold. The
GAS company has only limited supply,
anatbere is a cheerful prospect of gen.
aral resort to the use of coal oil or tallew
candles before many more evenings
These serious facts cannot be disguised
or eradei, and practical suggestions are
in order. The question which first
arises Is. What means Of relief are
v;tb;n reach. We can appeal first
10 the people living within ten miles of
the city to send in wood, after sup
plyipg their own wants, and not to
charge famine prices. Cutting wood and
hauling it with oxen or epizootic horses,
when the thermometer is only ten or
fifteen degrees above zero, is not
pleasant occupation, and the temptation
10 charge city folks full prices for thin
loads of crooked timber has seldom been
resisted successfully Whatever comes
in from the country viii be paid for and
the market price will not fall until the
mercury, which regulates things at the
other end of the beam, goesup The
relief from this quarter viii not. cannot,
he general or reliable. Hence the chief
dependence is on the railroads, and we
feel that the press and the people have
8 right to appeal to the Memphis and
Louisville and the Southern Security
companies to give the preference to coal
cars over ordinary freights until rea-
sonable supply can be brought into the
market. There is enough on hand, per
hAps, TO do forty-eight hours; within
that time a considerable stock can
be brought to the city by rail and
sols at q fair profit without
great advance on theregular prices that
hAYs ruled this winter. Those who are
too poor to buy for themselves. We have
reason to believe, would be furnished
small supplies from day TO day by the
Citizens Relief Committee, which yes
terday inaugurated such q noble and
christian charity and who need not be
reminded that he that giveth to the
poor lendeth to the Lord. Those able
could buy for themselves and would not
complain at any reasonable price.
Memphis furnishes business that sup
ports the railroads, and the common
wealth has been taxed heavily, either
directly or otherwise, 20 build and main
tain these railroads, and we feel that the
community has right to expect ac-
commodation and relief at such time
as this from humane officials, who are
more or less identified with and inter
ested in the welfare Of the people.
We hope to see, therefore, the immedi-
ate organization ola citizen coal union,
which shall make the best possible terms
with the railroads to meet the present
emergency, and which shall be strong
enough, numerically and financially, to
carry out the necessary relief measures,
and will, at the outset, be pledged to sell
coal to conumers--not speeulators-ai
actual cost of delivery. Such a move
meut we believe to be imperatifely de-
manded for the relief and protection Of
thousands in the city who are likely to
suffer. Let this be done for the present,
aud after the river opens the coal bust.
ness can regulate itself as usual