New-York tribune., 1900-05-02
COAL AND COMMERCE..

Reports multiply of European demands for
American coal Long ago 1t was made known
that for one reason or another this years output
oil the Continent would be short of the demand,
and there would be looking to the United
States for a supplementary stock. The same
was also rumored concerning Great Britain
where the increasing scarcity of coal is intensi-
fled by the natural desire of the Government to
reserve the best qualities for naval use. Con
siderable purchases of American coal for Euro
pean were some time ago reported. Now it
is made known that single firm at Frankfort
Germany, desires to contract for 100000 tons,
for delivery during the present year. The esti-
mated shortage in Germany is 100000 tons
and there is practically no source of additional
supply from which TO draw excepting the
United States. That MEANS of course, a CON
siderable increase in the export trade of this
country, which has already risen to unprece-
dcnted and unrivalled proportions. In itself that
fact is matter for rejoicing But its significance
does not stop there.
The important consideration is the intimate
relationship that exists, and is likely to exist in
definitely, between coal and general industry
With all our inventions no means of dispensing
with fuel has been discovered. To limited ex-
tent water power may be utilized as it has
hitherto been. But for the vast bulk of manu-
featuring establishments and for transportation
systems on land and fuel is absolutely nee
essary, and the one practical fuel is coal. Stop
the production of coal, and industry and COM
merce cease. 1t is obvious, then, that other
things being equal, or nearly equal that nation
will most excel in industry and commerce which
is best supplied with fuel for its furnaces 1t
has long been truism that England's indus
trial -eminence vas won largely through the
circumstance of her having vast coal mines and
iron mines situated side by side. The beneficent
results of like proximity are to be noted in more
than one part of the United States. And excep-
tions 10 the rule are either not important or not
lasting. lhus Southern cotton was woven into
cloth in ew-England instead of near the spot
where it was grown, because the whole indus
trial system of the South at that time made
manufacturing impracticable But the South
has now learned better. and to-day is construct
ing its own cotton mills right alongside the
plantations
We have idea that the coal supply of
Europe is exhausted. But the fact that II is
becoming perceptibly scanty and thus more
costly, while that Of the United States has
scarcely begun to be drawn upon must inevita-
bly, tend toward the handicappng OF Europe and
the favoring Of the United States In industrial
and commercial rivalry. 1t is not reasonable to
suppose that Europe conduct industries
with fuel bought abroad and carried three thou
sand miles III successful competition with a
country that has its own coalbin always full and
close by the side of its Workshop And the lat
ter description is exactly suited to the United
States. We not ONLY have plenty of coal but we
have 1t distributed In a marvellous manner
throughout all parts of the country PennsyI-
vania is no longer the only Carbon State"
though, of course she is and is likely long to
remain the best entitled to that distinction ILL.,
nois, Ohio and West Virginia measure their coal
output by tens of millions of tons Further
west, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming
and on the Pacific Coast Washington produce
coal by the million tons Kentucky, Tennessee
Alabama and other Southern States do likewise
There are more than dozen States widely
scattered, any one Cf which could easily make
up the whole of Europes deficit.
Such are the conditions that make for self
reliance In a nation. Here is a compact vet
extensive continental domain, comprising all
climates from sub-arctic to sub-tropical and
VIII = corresponding variety Of agricultural