The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-20
COAL.
The Atlanta Georgia. Herald, Of the
28th May, says:

i WAL
The Atlanta (Georgia) Herald, Of the
28th May, says:
Yesterday occurred gratifying event in
the history of Georgia enterprise. For the
first time we have to record the passsge of
Georgia coal to the sea-coast to be used in
running the ocean steamers.
Yesterday afternoon shipment Of ten
car loads of fine lump coal from the Dade
county Coal Mines passed through the city
for Port Royal for use on the ocean steam
ers running to Europe. To-day similar
shipment of ten car loads will pass through
to 90 to Boston.
This is but the dUdItt courier of large
business. We are assured that by the first
of August this company will sell lump coal
in Atlanta for 20 cents q bushel by the car
load.
The various railroads are now carrying
all the coal from the mines to Port Royal
or Savannah for ocean steamers, at Of
one cent per ton per mile, with view to
build up the business. This Is cheaper
than the Pennsylvania roads carry coal for
the same use.
The increase in the consumption Of coal
for the last three years has been very re-
markable.
In 1871 the Western and Atlartic Rail
road carried in round numbers 1890 car
loads in 1872, 1900 in 1873, 10000.
COAL IN ALABAMA.
We heretofore referred to the progress in
the development of the Alabama Coal
Field, and the matter is again brought to
notice by the following report in the Lou
lsville COuSler-JouTndi. 1t is old, we know,
but there is nothing like keeping these mat
tiers before the public:
There are two distinct, well-defined
coal fields in the State, differing alike in
quantity and quality, known as the Black
Warrior and Cahaba fields. The first EN-
bI aces about 5000 square miles, yields
bituminous coal which burns freely, cokes
well, and NAL pod gas.
The Cahab' al field for the most part
lies between Selma, Rome and Dalton
railroad and \. Cahaba river and yields
better coal for general use than the other,
though 1t is more expensive to mine on ac-
count of troublesome bands of shale.
About three-fourths of the Alabama coal
| used in the State come from two mines In
the Cahaba field. The day is not far dis
tant when the coal fields Of Alabama, be-
sides supplying the home consumption,
which will be enormously increased by the
development of iron mines, will provide
all the Gulf ports with the greater portion
Of their fuel, it being OILY little more
than two hundred miles from the coal re-
gions to the sea board at Pensacola. AL
ready shipments have been made to the
West Indies.
COAL IN IRELAND.
Though long and anxious have been the
expectations of the public as to the ultI-
mate result Of the coal question in Ireland,
it is now feared that their most sangulne
hopes wlH end in disappointment For a
series Of years indeed, almost from the
commend ement Of the present century
the trade has been giving indications Of
collapse and, although these signs have
been most obvious and unveiled, the Irish
public has continued to look forward to
prosperous and satisfactory termination Of
the matter.
1t is now, however, almost beyond the
limit Of hope to expect that the coal trade
of Ireland will be aught but insecure and
poor, for as the supply continues to in
crease in England and Scotland, the ex-
ports will naturally and comparatively de-
crease. 1t is difficult to trace to its source
the disinclination of the Irish people to
develope and work their own mines, which
are both valuable and plentiful, OF their
desire to receive their supplies from for
eign sources. In former times 1t was be-
lieved that the Irish coal fields would
induce capitalists to embark freely in the
undertaking, and as far as geological re
search and conviction were concerned,
ample proofs were and have been given
that the extent Of the supply Is greatly
beyond any demands that might arise
The Royal Geological Society of Ireland,
in their annals published long years ago,
have found, beyond all possibility of
doubt, that the quantity in the Irish fields
lis inexhaustible, and that it could be
worked with less expense and greater facil-
ity than any other existing coal. But
when we glance hack at the statistics Of
bygone years, and see how Intellectual
have been the endeavors of the Irish to
bring their coal to good account, it is not
harbinger Of future success.
At the present time, the coal trade in
Ireland is being carried on on false basis;
for so long as the country is supplied with
imported coal, no heed is given to its own
stores, and most prolific stores, of wealth !;
the consequence is that when, either by
contrary winds or other unavoidable oc
currences, the coal laden vessels do not
reach its shores with their wonted punctu-
atty, the entire country is thrown into the
utmost excitement. At one time, and
within the last three years, coal was sold
in Ireland at 81 ton, which price was
advanced to Sos in few weeks, owing to
the fluctuations in the Scotch and English
markets, and the disturbed state of the
trade generally.
1t has been repeatedly proved by scien-
tifc authorities that the Irish coal could
be sold in the most distant and remote
parts of the country for 2Os. per ton, at
which figure the masters would secure net
profit Of over rs. per ton. Proof is not
wanting in the matter, and ample oppor-
tunities for speculation afforded. Never
theless, the trade is at present in a very
poor condition, and is each week becoming
worse.