The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-22
The Coal Question In It's Immediate
and Prospective Bearings.


and Prospective Bearings.
The question of coal supply has become an
exceedingly interesting one both in England
and the United States. The newspaper press
and the periodicals have been discussing it in
every point of view. But it claims attention on
somewhat different grounds in the two coun-
tries. In England the coal fields are meas
ured, the weight in tons of available coal esti-
mated, and the time calculated approximately
when the whole amount in the island will be
consumed The area of the coal fields being
limited and known, and the annual consump-
ton being enormous. Parliament appointed q
commission of able men to ascertain what
the quantity that can be reached or mined
is, and how long, at the average rate
of consumption, it will be before
the whole would be exhausted. There was
some difference of opinion among the Com
missioners both as to the available quantity
and the time when it would be consumed.
Some. thought coal at a vast depth, where the
heat approaches hundred degrees of Fahren-
heit might be worked by the application of
scientific improvements. Others thought not.
Hence, as there is great deal of coal in Eng
land lying at depth where the temperature is
SO high or higher, the estimates differed. Still
all agree that the period Of exhaustion is
limited, and this is variously stated to be from
one hundred to two hundred years Some few
writer's on the subject make the time less and
some more Probably the coal fields Of Great
Britain, calculating the present rate of con-
sumption and average yearly increase on that
from the steady increasing demand, will be
exhausted in little over century. Of course
this calculation is based upon the supposition
that no discovery Of any substitute for
coal will be found Then, great quantity of
the best coal has been taken out of the mines,
and what remains of superior quality will be
first mined. The poorer qualities will be ex-
tracted at increased cost as time advances.
Here, then, we see sufficient reason for the
rise of price in England and the fear ex-
pressed as to the future The manufacturing
and commercial greatness and wealth of Eng
land came from her coal fields more than from
anything else. As coal cannot be imported as
cheaply as it has been raised at home there is
vance than decline.
In the United States coal remains high, and
the price is being forced up from very differ
ent causes Our coal fields are well nigh in
exhaustible; at least they are so extensive
that no time could be reasonably fixed for
their exhaustion. There will be an abundant
supply mahy centuries hence though our popu-
lation may be counted by hundreds of mil
lions. We mean both anthracite and
bituminous coal, for though the former, as
far as is known, is limited chiefly to Pennsyl-
vania, there is in that State an enormous
why has the price been advanced? The price
of Scranton coal at auction in June, 1871, was
four dollars and eighty-fve cents ton last |
month it brought four dollars and ninety six
cents Now it is said the rate will be ten
cents ton higher during the rest of the sea-
son. Even the vast abundance nature has in
store in this country and the increasing tacii-
ties for working and bringing coal to market
prove of no advantage to the consumer. In
stead Of getting coal cheaper, as improved
means for working and transporting it are
developed, it becomes dearer. In brief, the
whole community and all our great industrial |
interests that need this valuable article are at
the mercy of the railroad monopolists, who not |
only charge what they please for |
transportation but have bought up
and obtained control of the worked |
and convenient coal fields. The Reading
Coal and Iron Company, it is said, has spent
thirty millions of dollars in buying up mines
and lands in Schuylkill county, and this COM
pany is owned by, or is virtually, the Read
ing Railroad Company. Other railroad COM
panies may not have the power to grasp as
much as this gigantic corporation, which has
a considerable monopoly OF the coal carrying
business, but they are all as ambitious and
selfish, and are aiming at like control over
the markets of the country. Practically, they
own the State of Pennsylvania, and dictate
what they will to the Legislature and the execu-
tive authorities. The people of New York and
other States are taxed heavily, though indi-
rectly, by such stupendous monopolies. A
tax ON the food we eat would not be more
oppressive than on fuel, and yet these corpo-
rations can. with impunity, impose ON exor-
bitant price on coal, in order to declare enor-
nous dividends and to enrich themselves
Unless some means be found to check the
grasping cupidity of the railroad companies in
Pennsylvania the whole coal region of that
State will soon belong to them. Now they
have complete monopoly of transportation,
and, as a consequence, charge pretty much
what they please, or control the market price
by regulating the supply. With the possession
of the coal fields their power will be absolute.
We refer to coal particularly because that is
the theme Of our article; but the railroad
monopoly has its grip upon the industrial
pursuits of the country generally. The farmers