The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-12-04
THE COAL INTEREST.
where We Should Procure Ger Coal.
How We Can start AEanufaeturiss.

IL is q matter of importance to ouI
people to be advised of the quantity o.
coal which is consumed monthly in
our city, the amount of money paid
therefor, and the relative cost of burn
!, Ing foreign coal, which is shipped in
here at considerable expense, as COM
pared with that of our own county
That Lyon county is supplied with a
great abundance of coal of as good
quality as Is to be found in the state oil
Kansas, is demonstrated beyond any
peradventure, and we should wake up
to realization of the fact that we
ought to develop our own resources,
and keep our money in our midst, in
stead OF feeding Fort Scott, Usage,
Burlingame and other competing
: points. Home interest should be par
amount to every other, unbiased by
outside influences, and when we cast
abont we cannot close our eyes to the
; truth that large amounts of money are
annually sent away from among as to
pay for that of which we have a boun.
tifnI supply of our own. This Is liter
ally thrown away, 50 far as any benefit
We derive from 1t, which we might not
receive from our own county and keep
our money at home, is concerned.
Our city has every facility and adj
vantage for becoming the greatest
manufacturing point in the state-it
rests with our citizens To make it such
and we should use every means that
nature and enterprise have provided
'is with, to bring about this desirable
end. Among other considerations,
then, we should not lose sight of our
home coal interest, but should turn our
attention to the development of the
immense beds of this important min
eral which abOunds so lux uriantly |
| in our county.
Ii appears, on investigation. that the |
foreign coal trade in this city during
the the month OF November, just clos
ed, foOts up as follows: Scranton
shaft, sold by J. l.. w. Bell, 40 tons,
1000 bushels, at 20 cents, $4,000;
Usage shaft, A. F. Wilson. 60 tons,
1900 bushels, 20 cents, $4,000; Fort
Scott, j. S. Watson, dealer, 50 tons,
2,l25 bushels, % cents, $50; max
Ing total of $685.. so for foreign coal
paid out during the month last past.
The Scranton coal costs at bank IL
cents; the Usage 1211S cents; and the
freight on each is 315 cents. The Fit.
Scott coal is delivered TO Mr.. Watson
here at Is cents. so that when we esti-
mate the cost of tue November supply
OF coal here, on the cars, we find that
tue sum OF S773.33 was paid out to for
eign dealers and railroads, in one
month, and our people deprived OF the
money which might inst as well have
been kept here. The dealers in Seran-
ton and Usage coal anticipate an in
crease In their trade for the current
month and ensuing winter months of
one-Chird, while Mr.. Watson, our deal
err in Fort Scott coal, expects to sell
during the months of December, Janu-
airy and February GOO tons. Thus, on
fair reckoning, from this time until
the first of March, our people will haYe
paid out no less than $3,263 80, which
have been sent out of their reach,
whilst our own extensive coal beds are
yawning and gaping to receive the
money. This estimate is simply of the
amount paid to foreign dealers and NOT
OF what the consumer pays.
Coal OF excellent quality is haHled
In by teams and sold on the street ut I6
cents. This coal Is as good as any in
the market, and we should be glad to
see many more teams engaged in the
same employment until such time rs
some other means of transportation
shall be opened up to the fields. A
man with team can make good wag-
es in no easier way. We do not pretend,
nor can we, to estimate the quantity of
Lyon county coal hauled here for sale,
but certain it is much more of it should
he used and less of the imported arti-
Gle.
Reasoning from the above, then,
does il not beh0ove ms to pause and
consider how We may best subseive
our own interests, and intelligently {
and heartily cooperate in accomplish
ing the proper result? Means of
arOusing our coal from it's lazy sleep
and of transporting it, should be pro-
Vided, and this ever-relIable source of
wealth and product of industry should
be made to aid In building up our
beautiful city, by driving the wheels
of machinery, finding market for it
self elsewhere, and Otherwise adding to
the prosperity, wealth and enterprise
of our community. These veins should
be phlebOtomized and made to furnish
employment to hundreds Oflaborers,
who, in turn, will scatter the proceeds
of their labor among us, In payment
for our produce and manufactures, and |
thus, a great, new impetus be added to
every branch of industry. and as city
and county we would go on, increasing
in wealth and impOrtance-every use
full aYOcation being benefited.