Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-02-15

turtles the British Isles have been the
great storehouse for the world supply
of coal, iron, and other minerals
Their coal mined in 1870 exceeded
one hundred and ten million tons,
while our whole production of both
Anthracite and Bituminous was but
twenty-five millions. Their produc-
ton of iron ore was fourteen million
tons, and of pig iron nearly six mil
lions, while our production of pig iron
was less than two millions. We used
in 1870, Il little more than one million
tons of railroad iron. We manufac-
tured 600, 900 tons, and imported 49,
900 from England Our total impor-
tatlons for 1870 amounted to $43 .0OO,-
900. But while we are constantly
growing stronger, England is as stead
lily growing weaker and the contest
for the manufacturing supremacy must
soon terminate in our favor. Since
the wages Of the British miner have
been increased and his hours of labor
reduced to fair rates, the production
of the English mines has decreased
while its cost has increased besides,
the future development of their Goals
will be more expensive, as they are
obliged to sink deeper for them
Their product willnow diminish, while
ours will increase. The one item of
cheap labor has long reta ded the full
development of our resources now
the tide has turned and our nation is
going forward with rapid strides
Our ships crowd every port, our ca
nails reach every valley, and cur rail
ways are as numerous as turnpike
roads. Already we have one iron
link fastened at either end on the At
lantic and Pacific coasts and two 9TH
ers well under way, striding through
the wilderness, bearing light and civ
ilization to the now shadowv lands
What thoughtful man will not make
the contrast, when he considers our
vast resources of Bituminous Coal, so
widely spread; our Anthracite 50 con-
centrated III one State, near the sea-
board the iron ores Of Lake Cham
plain on the one hand, those of Lake
Superior and Missouri on the other,
and the hematte ard fossiliierors ores
of PENNSYLVANIA and the Franklnite
of New JERSEY, close at home-all
gravitating toward a common GENRE,
where lies the coal fuse them. Con-
sidering these, and with them +
limestone valleys, our forests of tim
Der, the oil districts of Western Penn
sylvania. and our railroad and canal
systems-it needs no prophetic vision
to mark the spot where he workshops
of the world will be. Shall we place
them far North, far South, far West,
or at a point of ready access to our
great scaboard cities; easily reached
from all points by both rail and canal !;
Oh the great route Of travel from the
Pacific cuast,-the route over which
come alike the gold and silver Of the
far West, and the teas AMI silks ofthe
far East? We venture the prediction
that We do not stand to-day one hun
dred miles from the spot where the
; London and Liverpool Of this CONT
nent will be. a giant power. unintlu-
cnccd by political parties will place
them where the elements which shall
constitute their greatness are readily
found and cheaply gathered toc man
utacture and distribution
10 build up our future metropolis
we must have good and plentiful 'a'-
terials and che~ tran rot'a.!on. We
mus, exact 900! work, and t. secure It.
must pay good wages, and not otpresr
the workinen with eXhaI.tinI >. w
i. '4,i1n Neither m,ist lie dictate, what
) his wages shall be; for his labor he
must receive a just recompense, ana
no more.
ITO he C,'utinuel.]