Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-02
The Coal Trade.
The Cumberland Times of yesterday, say


We have 10 positive information on the sub
ject, but there are iudlcalonso a general resump
lion of coal shipments BY canal before many days
now. We know nothing as to terms. In the
meantime there is no sign from the Attorney
General, and the question is, How long does it
take that official to get ready to see the law en-
forced? Come, MIR. Gwiun, show your metal.
Per contra the Cumb .rIand News has the
following:
We have stated that it was not improbable
negotiations would be ioaugurated Tor com
promise Of the difficulties existing between the
Cumberland and Piedmont Railroad Company
consolidation Company aud the coal compa
nes. We were last evening Informed that The
matter has resulted in disappointment. Wed
nesday last ii was expected that oVertures toI
an adjustment would be made by the Con>ol
datiou Company, but up to noon Saturday they
were not forthcoming, and now it would appear
that nothing remains for the companies hut tc
await the action OF the law, which it is hoped
may be speedily invoked.
The Baltimore Sun, says:
All efforts at compromise have failed 10 re.
gard to the Consolidation Coal Cempany's eva
sion of the law passed By the late Legislature
fixing the freight on Coal to be transported over
that company's road, (the Cumberland anc
Piedmnut,) and that legal proceedings on tho
part of the State must be instituted fer adjudi
cation of the questions 10 dispute. The Cum
berland papers admit that the Consolidation
Company is master of the situation, as il con
trolls almost the entire coal carrying trade 0! the
coal region by having got possession OF the Cum
berland and Pennsylvania Railroad, and rctu,
ing TO accept the two ceDts per too per NIL,
prescribed by an act OF the late il 'glslatufe. L
is now selling its owe coal for 50 81 atom, which
leaves the company a margin vi but 81 cc0ts {
ton for mining
Some of the other cumpanes, 1.-THE MaryIa ud
for instance, under SIMILAR circumstances O
sale and transportation, would have margin o
but fifteen cents per ton as lntrInsIc value OF III
coal. The Consolidation Company is shipping
by canal about 500 tons OF coal each day.
The Cum bcrlaDd papers are uDitcd ID coudcn
nation of the evasion Of the law by the recent
transfer Of the Cumberland and Pcnnsyl vanl;
Railroad to the Consolidation Goa! Compa
but none Of those papers secm willing to cIol
that company 10 its operations, even it lis step:
prove TO be illegal, because such cOulse wouIc
be fatal to mining interests 10 Acgany ant
Garrett counties.
The following items are from the Cumber-
land AlleganIau There is Que and only one
satisfactory way of settling the difficulties now
pending between the State aud the Ionsollda
ton Company; and that way is by calling AL
extra session of the Leglsla ure.
The cost of holding an extra session Of the
Legislature for ten days w uld amount, all OK
penses told, to about SIC 600 at big estimate
In view Of the fact that suspension Of tho
coal trade oil Allegany would amount to the
loss of many millions of dollars to the people
of Maryland,t does seem that SIG, 900 Is bur ;
pilltul sun to s,aud in the way OF rcmovng tho
difficulties that are prosratlng to utter ruin the
business of this section of the State.
10 tho memorable winters OF 1866 81. FOL
lowing the frishtfuIly depressed scasou on the
canal during the previous summer, when over
| 900 mules Wrre sold at M lmWcusc sacrifice
by boatmen. MIR. j. =. Roman made orciblt
and eloquent speech at mass III citing 10 the
Court House, 10 which he said Close the
canal and it will not be macy years before your
main business houses on Baltimore ST. will be iii
only for the houses of owls aud bats Ii the
present state of affairs continues much longer,
the prophecy OF MIR. Roman will be fulfilled.
There is a boatman 10 the line OF certain
company now shipping coal, who offered 10
Georgetown on Thursday. eight iuc mules for
$500, having paid for them in the first place
between 81 800 aud 81 400. Several Of the
mules were considered the best on the canal,
and we're sold to the present owner by MIR.
David Taylor at 5000 head TO such pass
as this have the buatmen come.
The Consolidation boa.men, who have struck
big bonanza carrying coal at one dollar ton,
have lean and hungry look, likewise their
poor mules which look up to their owners with
the pitiiul eotreaty, so pathetic and touching,
OF dumb creatures starving to death, whilst
their pound Of strength is rapidly being ex-
hausted to carry coal that sells for 50 II un-
loaded in Washington.