Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-24
TEE COAL TARIFF.


The Fairmont Indcr and the Charles
ton Gazette object to the removal Of the
duty on coal They are the only Dem
ocratic papers that do. They are prob
ably sincere and honest in their belief
that West Virginia's coal industry would
be Injured by removal of the duty.
But do they understand the question?
Have they examined it thoroughly?
We think not.
Canada is our only competitor in this
industry. She imposes a duty Of sixty
cents on bituminous coal from The
United States. Should we remove our
duty Canada would also remove the duty
she imposes. Tn the open field OF COM
petitlon thus afforded statistics prove
ciusively that Canada would stand
no show at all. that the United States
would gain Canadian markets which il
cannot now reach because Of the Cana
dian duty.
Reciprocity between Canada and the
United States would largely increase
the coal exports from Pennsylvania,
West Virginia and Ohio to Central Can
ada. In ls91-92 we shipped to Canada
from these States !, 100000 tons Of BIZ
luminous coal besides 10000 tons OF
coal dust and coke a letter from OF
tawa says;
II CONGRESS repeats the duty Of IS cents
ON Canadian coal the ministry Will repeal
the Canadian duty OF 90 cents on Ameri
can coal. All the coal in Canada is btu
minOus and the 90 cents is levied on
American bituminOus, anthracite Oeing
free. This duty enables the Nova Scoua
collieries TO send the coal by rail ana wafer
as far west as Montreal
From Montreal TO Winnipeg all the
coal consumed comes from this country
from the States above named. The let
ter continues:
From Winnipeg to the Rocky noun,
tains there is a supply Of very soft
bituminOds found at various pisces 10 the
Canadian territories, and beyond luC
mountains are the large deposits OF BRUSH
Columbia. I'm lS9l-92 Canada imported
1.4SO.OOO tons Of anthracite from the
United States, of which the province OF
Ontario took over j, CO0000. and l,tOO,VUJ
tons of bituminOus, besides l2hOyO tons oil
coal dust and coke, the bulk of which was
consumed by the manufacturers ana ran.
roads of Ontario. A small quantity OF
British bitumiuOus is brought over ~
vessels ia ballast. The exports OF Cana.
10 40 600 tons and 10 other countries prln-
cipaIlv 10 Britain as ballast, Newfoundland
and tie MiOuelOa islands, ll5,VtJ tons
British Columbia coal going 20 San ran
cisco formed the greater part OF the eN-
forts 10 the States. Nova Scotia sold
ABOUT 100000 tons in New England.
The Pittsburg Post says: 1--WE know
that Pitsburg coal men who have their
ewes on the Canadian market regard
with great favor the reciprocal aooli-
ton OF the duties on coal by the two
countries. Anthracite is already on the
free list. Only bltuminous is taxed. II
made tree IL would be to the advantage
OF the New England and Pacific coast
consumers on the American SIDE Of the
line, while Pennsylvania producers
would have free market from Mon
treal to Winnipeg, which includes
Ontario, the most enterprising and go
ahead section Of the Dominion" Oh
Ahis increased trade West Virginia
would get her due share, which would
not be small. GAS to wages" continues
tho Post "as we have before said, that
question does not eater into It, The
Canadian miners get as good If not bet
ter wages than the American miners.
We an know how the latter are treated
and how much the tariff has tOdo with
heir wages.
West Virginia has nothing whatever
ear and everything to hope from
y Of reciprocity with Canada
gln be only on that basis that
be placed on the free list II Il
,laced there at oil.
lister advises the Iader and
examine n thoroughly
eet befor 'g further
line snt