Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-12-10
PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, Oct. 10, 1873.

Total amt ofcQal mined in Pr inIss220 - 23GS55
".. '" 1850 3,35s,09S
.t" 1s60 s'58'10
" "" 4" ."- 1870 15,S49,S99
" -" = 1872, 24,000,000
There are now employed in the mining
Of coal, $4,000, 900, to say nothing of the
immense railroad interest depending upon
1t. The amount paid yearly to miners is
about S33, 900, 900, to which must be added
AR amount for other labor and for material
directly connected with the mining busi-
ness, which in 1869 raised the total to
905, ,000,0O0. In 1869, we exported 10, 900 900
tons of COAL and our expectation is yearly
growing larger.
From the above table, you will see that
the coal production of Pennsylvania was
not on a ascale of any magnitude until about
1870, and 1T was about this time that rail-
roads, penetrating the mining districts and
making outlets for coal to distant markets,
were put in operation. Since that time
The facilities for shipping and carrying
coal have steadily and rapidly increased,
while the demand and supply have in
creased in corresponding ratio.
4. Notwithstanding the fact that much of
mis- coal region is destitute of timber of
any value, and so barren that only in
highly favored places can agricultural pur-
suits be followed, even to a limited extent,
u presents scene of activity, industry,
and very generally diffused prosperity such
as is hardly to be seen elsewhere in our
country. Labor is always in demand and
exceptionally we'll paid. Every temper
ale, able-bodied, industrious man is there
II prosperous man. .. .... -.
Perhaps no more unanswerable argu-
ment in favor of the building of railroads
rs necessary means of developing. the
resources of country, could be advanced,
ig off In 4 a.,
ishing city of Scranton, a city containing
population of fifty thousand, which has
sprung up in the heart of this region since
1850. The conjunction of railroads, MAX
it central point for the coal and iron bus
ness, lasts made this city what it Is.
There are many other prosperous cities
and villages in the coal region that owe
their existence, first, to the railroads pass
ing through their limits, and secondly, to
The mineral wealth of the surrounding
country.
\ not less convincing argument, perhaps,
S presented in the numerous blast furnaces
rolling mills, machine shops and founda-
Ties, with all the varied business interests
which follow in their train.
The stock Of every railroad running
through this region is worth more than
par, and the stockholders are annually re.
ceiving liberal dividends.
\ large proportion of the coal mined in
/ Pennsylvania is bituminous. OF this ii
may be said, that there is perhaps 10 more
important element of our country's COM
mercial prosperity and greatness. Oul
immense and rapidly increasing manufac'
,uring Interests are almost entirely depen-
dent upon it for the production of steam
An illustration of the indispensable nature
of this quality of coal is offered in the fac
that it is largely shipped from the Bloss
burg, Penn, mines to Omaha, and there
sold to parties who re-ship it across the
plains, much of it going into the mining
camps of the Rocky Mountains and ther,
being utilized by the miners. 1t is alst
6. assuming considerable Importance as al
4 article of export, large quantities of it be
ing annually shipped to Canada.
lneXhaustable quantities of bituminou
81 coal lie along the line of your marrow
= gauge railroad for over one hundred miles
between Tennessee and the Ohio River
two hundred and fifty miles nearer tn
Western market, and nearly one hundred
miles nearer .he Atlantic coast than tn
Pennsylvania mines and absolutely com
manding the whole market south and eas
of the CIinch River
Nothing is more certain than that al
early development of these coal lands viii
follow the construction of railroad
through them. | feel sure that with tn
market advantages which this road will
possess it will soon be found impossible t,
portatiCn OH a single track, and that addi
tional ones will have to be built. That tn
construction of the road and the develop
ment of the coal lands will be accompane
by the extensive introduction of manufaC
tories, especially in iron, | also conside
certain.
Our greatest scholars have predicted tina
the Mississippi Valley would at some fl
ture day be densely populated by the mos
- intelligent aud prosperous people in til
world; and firmly believe that the build
ing of your railroad, followed as ii mus
r. and will he by the development of the nat
# ural resources of the country and tn
speedy introduction of manufactures, vii
be very important step toward that end
With great respect, / am
= Yours, Very TRULY,
f. .as -s.r ..... J. 5. SPAULDING.
The first speech ofEX-Attorney of Genera
\ Hoar, Of Massachusetts, on the Louisian
.Iac+inp casa In the n tusp made I, very II d