The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-05
THE CHEAP FUEL TOPIC.
WHAT TEXAS COAL sHouLpcosT
"Curiey" Writes Inteliigentiy and Know.
ingiy ON the Subject-why a Rail-
road Should be Built From Dali
las to the Northwest.

DALLAS, May A. Editor HERALp.l-
l have read with much pleasure your
various strong editorials urging the
building of railroad to the northwest,
and while you have about covered the
ground as to the necessity of such
road, not only for the interest of Dallas,
but for the interest of very large por-
ton OF the state, it seems to me that the
great need Is cheap fuel, because with
out this manufacturers will not seek
location in your midst.
Now, the coal veins about Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, in the first, second and
third "pools" are from three to tour feet
thick, the cost of mining same "a to 81
cents per bushel or from 62 to S71S cents
per ton. This coal is loaded III bargos
and transported TO New Orleans, over
1900 miles, and sold to the dealer at So so
TO 1915 per ton, to the small con-
coal ON cars is sold at the
same place from $3.50 to $500 per ton.
Now your friends, Profs. Boil and Cum
mings, have informed you fully as to
the "carboniferous strata" Of Texas, and
we have some practical demonstrations
that we have a very good vein OF coal
from % to 2S inches in thickness now
being developed in Palo Pinto, Wise
and Parker, with other splendid crop
pings in Jack, Young and Stephens. OF
course the skeptical and parties inter-
ested elsewhere, claim that there is no
good coal in Texas, but it is the same old
story that was told in Illinois and Mis-
souri, when all the coal needed Tor max
ing gas and other purposes in st. Louis
and other places was lowed from Pitts
burg down the Ohio and up the Missis-
sippirivers. The vein at Gordon is being
rapidly developed. They have lately
opened mine No. 9, and the superinten-
dent says that it is far better coal than
mine No. l, and is improving all the
time as to quality and thickness, and
second vein will be found at some
COO to 800 feet below. As
10 quality and thickness o.
the vein. Mr.. Gould would not have
over 800 men at work at the Gordon
mines, as he now has, unless there was
money in 1t, and the coal good enough
to be used. The coal in Wise, Young
aud Stephens is still better, and far bet
ter as to quality and thickness thar
much of the coal at first mined in Mis-
souri, and Illinois, and certainly far SUI
perior TO some of the "Nation coaihwhel
introduced here some or 10 years ago
the veins here and at Pittsburg win, O
course, make it more costly mining il
Texas. but 6 cents per bushel, or SIS
per ton, ought to be good figure, an
outside cost of putting good screeno
coal in the car. This, of course, mean
for labor after the mine is in runniu
order. This is double the Pittsbur
cost. Even then, with heavy transpol
tation rates, we ought TO have the sam
delivered to the consumer al
per ton, with good profit to all col
cerned. These prices would be cheap 9
compared TO our present rates of
per ton to the small consumer, {
50 to $3.50 per cord for wood; one ton I
coal being equal TO two cords of haT
wood. Now, do not say that this
the lowest figure that our own col
could be produced and delivered at 1
any means; inor do say that "NatiC
coap cannot be delivered here for les
but do say 1t will never be so delivert
until competition forces the prize
down. Nor will Mr.. Gould assist in d
development OF other coal than his oW
as long as he has controlling intere
in the Nation and Gordon coal field
and in its transportation. He will N
compete against himself, but on Il
contrary, he and his agents will di
courage all efforts in that direction.
look upon this interest as one
the greatest importance to the stat
and predict that the city tn
first secures a controlling interest
and railroad connection with the net
est and best coal deposit, will devel
into the largest and most prospero
manufacturing and commercial city
the state. And the railroad penetrate
such section, having in connection |
g.N of Will
profitable TO its projectors, when otl
roads, without these advantages, {
doing comparatively nothing.
Yours, CURLEY