The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-12
OFFICE BgIGaTuOPE RAILWAY COMPANY,
RICHMOND. February 8, 1878.

Editors Richmond Dispatch:
As the representative OF the only ccal cor
,ora,ion in the State OF Virginia, and as we
rmnlov directly $50 men who are fed and
clothed through the merchants OF this city,
and therefore contribute something to the
commerce Of the city, ask you to ''hear
me for my cause"
In the pamphlet referred to by you in to-
DAYS issue there will be found statement,
the accuracy of which you doubtless never
Questioned. since it was compiled oy Cen
crsl St. John ..from the official papers OF
the Richmond Gas-Works, with the assist
once Of the officers thereof" So far as the
statement goes it may be based on facts. but
that il is not clear statement Of facts !
think can hereafter show. Every engi-
neer is proud Of his profession because OF
the beautiful accuracy with which facts can
te handled not only should he be careful
n have facts as the basis OF his statement,
bnt he should also so array them that falsef
deductions will not be drawn. II, how
ever they have the appearance OF being
=. .nerrymandered." the whole statement
should be accepted with caution. Now the
fauIt in the compilation was the failure
General St. John to enter up the percentages
in MI cases where mixed Goals were used.
;Ie WAS careful to do it where his coal was
:; part Of the mixture, but carried the
ANALYSIS no farther. So all his compa-a-
tive statement shows is that his coal
Ju itself is really superior to the mtIture
aSed. but does not proue that it is better
than any one OF the other Goals composing
the mixture, for even camel coal may have
been used and lis high grade hidden by tue
overwhelming proportion OF inferior coal.
Ii General st. John had contented himself
with using the Term "cther Goals" in his
comparisons should hesitate before crltl-
cispg his table; but since his "notes" are
calculated to iniure the sale OF Clover Hill
Goals by the uni position he has assigned
them, and in view OF the fact that these
notes will be industriously circulated, ! can
not allow the statement' to go unchal-
lenced. The Chesapeake and Ohio coal is
coed enough to find market on its merits
without its advocates having to compile
such incomplete statements as appear in
these "noteS on the coal trade"
have used the word gerrymandered. /
do so in no offensive sense, but to convey
the idea that in this statement all the bad
Goals. bad fixtures, bad management. are
grouped, and the result Of the process Gre
dited to the character OF the Goals from
"Clover Hill, Midlothian" &C., alone; and
thus we are deprived OF fair representa-
ion in his coal convention.
Now, we are prepared to accept the situa-
tion. so far as city patronage is concerned,
and to seek mai ket outside OF Richmond,
~ we have unmistakable evidence that our
Goals are not acceptable to the chairman OF
the Committee on Light, who, regardless OF
every fact and consideration, prefers other
Goals than ours; but we are sorry 10 have
20 90 forth with such statements to meet Us
and such comments as yours to back up the
statement. As matter OF interest to the
city YOU should wish us to sell outside OF
the city at all events. as we spend every
dollar OF our earnings here. Then your
journal breaches patriotism, and calls on
the State at large to promote Richmond
interests and make it grand city.
With all due Difference to foreign COM
mercc and its importance, Richmond must
cultivate kindly relations with the enter
p..ses Of the State, and remember that for
some time at least nine tenths Of her busi-
ness will be with her own people.
Please lind below certain facts at variance
with the inferences to be drawn from the
perusal of General st. Johns table. give
the cost per ton and the product of gas per
ton from Glover Hill, Midlothian, &c, and
at Richmond Gas-WorkS per General st.
Johns statement, and the result Of expert
1nents with the Clover Hill alone at Rich
mond and other gas-works, and also the
price OF coal furnished the Richmond Gas
Works per books OF the Glover Hill Rail-
road Company.