The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-01-21
CHEAP COAL.
e Plan for Breaking the 0pprss-
siVe Monopoly.

: your attention to the scarcity of &C
and the consequent annoyance e:
perlenced on account OF such scarcit,
During the past season the supply {
coal has been altogether inadequate
and continual vexa.ion has been e.
perienced by all consumers of fue
Until recently there has been SUP
piled ali the Rock Springs coal Whic
has been needed, but early in th
season other qualities were substi
tuted which are very inieri0
and totally unadapted to soma
mechanical purposes. Quite
number Of business men an
mechanics have been annoyed
and perplexed through this lack o
Rock Springs coal and several forgei
have been idle for want Of suitable
coal for blacksmithing. The Weber
coal will not do for that purpose,
and how often has the mechanic bad
to cringe and beg TOR 200 or 300
pounds OF Rock Springs coal to carry
on bis business? Why should this
condition OF things continue? Are
we, IS a community, bound down by
some particular obligations for bene-
FITS received from the parties who are
controlling the coal business OF Utah?
If We are, it should be known snd
understood, so that We may submit
with better grace; il We ara free to
act for ourselves, I would suggest that
We unite in an effort to supply our
selves with fuel OF a suitable kind for
all purposes and at q price that will
enable US TO start several industries
now undeveloped for want of cheap
fuel. Nature has put within our
reach abundance Of coal of excellent
quality, and circumstances demand
tina! We should use the energies we
are endowed With, reach out our
hands and help ourselves. The only
way to accomplish this is to build a
railroad of our own from this city to
the coal fields OF Pleasant Valley.
has taught US that no
private enterprise of this kind can be
long held in tae interests Of the
people, and it appears to me the
only way to obtain relief from the
burdens We are now oppressed with is
Tor Salt Lake city to obtain special
grant from the legislature to build q
and issue bonds for the con-
truction OF the same; then run the |
Dad for all parties, not so much for
arge profits, but for the benefit Of the
people; it would require very little, if |
ny, extra taxation to pay the interest
N the bonds. II any were necessary,
would Only be during the construo-
ion Of the road, and who would not |
daddy respond to a demand of that
lind, when the benefits to be derived |
hsrefrom are understood. As regards
be legality OF such an undertaking, l
gill say on go0d authority, that
question has been sdiudicated On and |
Iecided legal in the case Of Cincinnati,
which city built a Iold under similar
circumstances and not only saved the
interests of said city against
,owerful railroad monopolies, but in,
Ireased its own business beyond all
data relating to this
re expected in this city in few
sys.)
At first sightthi project msy startle
few, but on mature reflection it will
e seen there is nothing unreasonable
/ the proposed undertaking, and if
le people who have to bear the
urden of the enterprise are willing,
lrely the few who transact business
or the people should not finch.
the disposal of the bonds I
ave information from q reliable
ource that there would be no diff
ulty in issuing them at par at very
)w interest.
Now, regarding the objections that
nay be raised by some to this
3heme The greatest will be the
OF the undertaking which,
tier all, is net 80 great as may ap-
ear at frat sight. Suppose We were
} build a two-foot-5suge road, which
Ould be made to suit the peculisri-
les of the country through which it
-avsrses, and avoid a vast outlay in
uttings snd embankments by follow
lg the natural grade as much as
ossible through the canon. a two
with Fairleigh engine,
ould do all the work required. To
void as much az possible the pur-
base of right of way over private
roperty, let the Legislature grant
le right to run where practicable on
1unty or other roads, and get all the
ssistsnce possible from settlements Z
assed through, and get the grading
0ne by parties who would take in
rest bearing bonds calling for freight
4 the completion of the road, and
eler the issuing of bonds for iron
nd rolling stock as long as possible,
D that but little interest would accrue +
efore the road is in running order.
here may be another objection raised
n account of the Utah Eastern Rail
bad running to the Weber coal beds.
o this l will venture to say il ever
nat road is built it will not
enefit this city much. It does
OF require a great stretch of !
to see the result should ,
las road be completed. Already
le company have a bill before the
legislature to enable them to nc
opolize the coal business o. their
pad, and then as to the cosl, outside
1 domestic uses it is Yalueless. A
blacksmith cannot weld q nail rod
With it. In the matter of cheap |
uel, the Utah Eastern Railroad need
Tot be taken into consideration. 1t
las been said if the people build a
cad for themselves the Union Pacific
will run coal into this market at such
, low figure that it would be impo,-
ible to compete with them. Thai Is
God enough; by ell means let Us
lave a railroad il We can set coal for
3 or 81 per ton, whereas We now pay
z or IS. We can afford to shut up
ur little 'Fairleigh" and pay interest
II bonds, with from 5 to 10 per
ent. Of the money saved in fuel.
We need q railroad that will build |
ID the business of this city, and not
me that takes it from the city. I
7onder whether any of US are fully |
convinced of the immense tribute We |
Jay - eastern manufacturers for |
.rtic.es we hare every means Of pre-
lu3iDg for ourselves; have any idea
# the vast sum taken out OF the terri
DRY by the company who now make
u rsY TWO prices for tie cosl