The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09
cTABLIsHED AUGUST "a. 1852. u
THE COAL TRADE.
The Black Diamond OF Pittsburgh and
West virginia.


PiTrsDuRou, February s.-The L<ader
this evening says: Lately there has been a
strong opposition to Pittsburgh coal in the
cities Of Cincinnati, Louisville, st. Louis
and Memphis, caused by the rapid develop
ment OF coal fields Of West Virginia, and
it is said If some change is not made soon
the Pittsburgh coal will be forced out Of
the southern market, as they are now un-
able to cope with the West Virginia and
Alabama coal. The outflow OF the Ala.
bama mines (which are being rapidly de.
veloped) is principally consumed by Mem.
phis and New Orleans people, and the West
Virginia product Is sent TO all the markets
between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. The
West Virginia coal is sold seven dollars
cheaper per ton than Pittsburgh coal, but
1t Is admitted that 1t Is not so good.
The following are the reasons for this
state Of our trade in the black diamonds,
as given to reporter BY one OF the Oldest
and largest operators in the city. "To
commence with" said the gentleman, "the
West Virginia coal is mined one cent and
half cheaper per bushel than our coal Is,
and unless some arrangement can be made
with the diggers we will be shut out OF the
market entirely, but operators Of the fourth
pool can compete with this opposition, as
they get their coal 81 per ton cheaper.
For steam purposes our coal is un-
riyaled, but for family and smelling
purposes the West Virginia coal Is
rapidly gaining a foothold in the Ohio
river markets. The New Orleans Gas COM
pany and the Vicksburg and Birmingham
furnaces both use Virginia coal and are
making pig iron ST cheaper per month
than Pittsburg can make il, but 1t is not
considered US good in quality as the Pitts.
burg article. The quality OF the southern
pig Is not as good as ours, yet it compares
layorably with it and finds ready market
This you see makes strong opposition to
our industries in more ways than one; |
think there is only one way out OF the
difficulty, and that Is for the labor or.
ganizations to unites and take hold
Of the thing just as it stands,
and agree upon some contract between the
miners and operators to combine on some
scheme to enable us for time at least to
enter the southern markets on an equal
footing with our opponents, 80 that we can
compete with them entirely upon the
quality OF our goods; in a years time we
would be able to force them out OF the mar.
ket and so stop the development Of their
mines, and compel them to shut down, and
thus give US control OF the market to the
benefit of both miner and opera.
tor. AS IL is now it will simply be ques.
tion, which can afford 10 remain idle the
longest, the miner or the operator. The
advantages OF Alabama, West Virginia,
Kentucky and even Ohio, are favorable to
West Virginia coal. In West Virginia, coal
land is cheaper, mining is from q to cents
cheaper per bushel, and their mines are
about two hundred miles nearer the mar.
kets. The product Of the Virginia coal fields
all comes down the Kanawha river, which
for at least two years the Government has
been improving, and expending large
sums OF money in placing it in a proper
condition for the shipments made upon It.
AS will be seen by all, this is a very strong
combination against us, and II we do not
succeed in entering the market on the
same footing as our young rivals, the
superiority OF our coal will not save us
from defeat.