San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-02-22
AbOut Coat.
New York Mining Record

five square miles, conlpIishS '0
PENNSYLVANIA Anthracite fields, there
have been taken and marketed, as
was seen. from 1920 down to the
present time, an aggregate of 49,
0OO, 600 tons. II is of course idle to
speculate as to the quantity left un,
touched. Some writers conversant
with the subject, place the quantity
ut over twenty six million tons; OF
which they estimate two thirds would
be left in the mines or wasted in the
process of mining, leaving probable
output in the future, approxlmatmg
nine thousand millions of tons;
enough in all conscience to relieve
any anxiety which might be felt
as to the probable duration of the
supply. It's also idle to speculate
MS to whether the supply may not be
supplemented by new discoveries that
arc being constantly made. This may
and doubtless will happen in distant
porHons of our country. But our
present business is with the known
supply and its distribution to the
markets where it is wanted.
There are eight different companies
owning and controlling the avenues,
canals and railroads reaching this
coal field, and connecting it with the
markets at the seaboard and in the
interior. The aggregate investments
of those companies, represented by
stocks and bonds foot up something
over seven million dollars; but as
nearly all the roads are projected be-
yond the coal region, and to q large
extent employ their capital and equip
ment in moving other freight than
coal, it would be fairperhaps to set down
half that sum as employed for the
express purpose of reaching the coal
field and removing the freight there
offered them. This sum does not III
clude the cost OF value of mines own
ed by individuals Or by corporations.
who confn0 themselves to minlngand
do not transport their coal; nor does
it include the vast sum that has been
thrown away in explorations and de-
velopments from time to time, ever
since the deposits were first discoy-
cred. These sums themselves would
reach appalling figures, and added to
the present known investments, swell
the amount SO as to fairly justify tie
statnent so often made by persons
conversant with the subject, that
"reconing all the money which has
been invested with all that has been
lost in the anthracite regions, and
the profiO which has been returned
thereon, would not reach five per
cent. per annum.
The eight companies possessing
this region OF controlling access to it,
have practically secured all the good
coal lands to be had, and are there
fore responsible for the management,
not only Of their roads, but Of the
business of mining and selling their
coal. In years not long past, they
have shown disposition to slight
that responsibility, but of late,
better views have prevailed, in the
present year they have plainly disclos-
ed their purpose to regulate the trade
by limiting the output to the require
n1cnts Of the markets. In this they
have met nothing but opposition.
Retailers and Consumers alike have
resisted this policy by every artiGce
known to unscrupulous dealers. Fort
unately that resistance has proved en-
tirely futile. We say fortunately, be-
cause it is manifestIy to the interest
of all parties alike, that the coal trade
should be placed upon sound and
solid basis. The coal is not inexhaust-
ible in quantity. 1t is valuable as it
lies in the earth, and it costs money
in iargo sums to get it out and pro-
pare it for market. When once taken
out it is never reproduced, like others
among tbe necessaries OF life, but is
gone forever. When once the max
imum Of production is reached, be il
thirty OF forty or fifty millions per
annum, it viii be u short and easy
problem to tx the date Of It's complete
exhaustion. Then the people who
now grumble at everything connected
with the business, viii begin torealize
the intrinsic value Of the article, and
how much the community are de-
pendent upon it for their comfort and
happiness, and how much misery
would result from a sudden stoppage
of the supply. III the mean time it is
to be hoped those having CONTROL Of
the business, viii ste&dfastly adhere
to the wise and conservative policy
Allow how .r,,,,rr-,ra IoJ o,,1 r, =,