The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-20
ruE ExroKTiON AZ COAL

We well remember the time when n piece
of mineral coal was regarded by us aS
choice specimen in cabinet of minerals
we were gathering. We were not alone IN
80 regarding pit coal" as We used to call
il because. 50 far as this section of Yer
mont was concerned, ii was then hut rarely
met with. and only in some cabinet OF
minerals. There might have been some
furnaces and FORCES, thirty years ago that
10 limited degree, made Use of mineral
coal in the prosecution of their business,
Int, If so. it was SO comparatively small
tina, it did not attract general attention.
our mountain sides and other woodlands
-, va wants, AMI d, was luouSEt ~ bul
very doors mt such prices, that, when we
look back. it seems as if we passed through
our cold northern winters with our houses
and places of business rendered comfort
able and kept at summer heat, almost with
out cost. Everything was cheap then, and
the hardy wood-chopper, at a season of the
year when other employment was wanting,
made remunerativc wages, while the owner
of wood lots" found that this kind of
property was proportionately more profit
able than any of their other investments in
real estate. We might have heard of the
huctuating prices of coal, but what did we
care for it save as we abhorrcd all monopo-
lies that sought to combine against the
people. Some twenty-five years ago, a
change came over Vermont Railroads
were built here, there and everywhere, and
increased population, business and enter
prise naturally followed. New manufac-
turing interests, the development Of our
marble. slate and iron interests, the saving
of marble. the smelling of ores. the run
ming of locomotives and the increased con
sumption of fuel for home, office, store,
shop, etc, soon began to make fearful in
roads on our native supplies The price of
wood, for fuel, went up, mp, rr. Not
from any combination or monopoly, but
from natural causes. The mountain side
was being laid bare, and the forest and
grovc depleted of its trees, because the peo-
pie must and would have fuel
llttl II ltfN tltlItHl WAS lIllUNltlttAl. Al
first. coal might have been regarded as an
article Of luxury, because il was ,,sad only
by favored few TN account of the genial
cheerful warmth il difiused throughout a
house, both night and day. with compare
lively slight care or attention. Then too.
il was easier to provide winters, or years
supply Of fuel in this form than in any
other. Coal was delivered from the ears
cartcd to the house and stored away. and
that was the end of care. while where
wood was the chief fuel, the mass of house
holders we are speaking of early days
when coal was first introduced. more as an
experiment and as an expected necessity
but still considered rs somewhat of a lux
ury were compelled to contract for the
cutting of the trees Il year in advance, the
hauling from the woods to highways, the
splitting, piling up, etc II was but short
time before II was found, taking into the
account the trouble, the different number
Of men employed, and the prices paid to
an investment in wood lot, that coal was
no more expensive than wood as fuel It
Then came into more general use through
out the state, and coal depots were estab-
lished here and there within our borders.
During all this time, however, so far as the
individual expenditures--of the citizens were
concerned, we could laugh to scorn all
combinations of dealers or monopolies ON
their part or on the part of railroad COM
panes or others, owning or controlling
coal mines. We had the remedy in our
own hands, and could use coal or not as
we pleased. We could meet their comb-
nations by returning to the use of wood,
and could endure the inconvenience, if
necessary, so that we might not be imposed
upon by unconscionable combinations
This, as the result proved, was not always
TO remain so. The demand for fuel con.
stantly increased, trees vanished from the
vicinity of all larger towns and, indeed,
from near all railroad lines, With the d.