C.-Statement of the respective quantities of Lehigh Schuylkill and Lackawanna (Anthracite) coal mined, and brought to market in each year, from the com. mencement of that business in the year 1820, to the year 1833, inclusive, with an estimate of the whole quantity consumed, and the surplus remaining on hand in the different coal markets (at tide water,) on the 1st April in each year. The estimated amount and annual increase of consumption and the retail prices at which Lehigh and Schuylkill was delivered to purchasers in Philadelphia in each year. Also a statement of the quantity of foreign (bituminous) coal, imported into and exported from the United States, in each year, ending on the 30th September, from 1821 to 1833, inclusive, showing the balance left for conto tons of 30 bush.each. 446,847 808,805| 300,377 sumption in the U.S.reduced kill. B.-Satement of the quantity of Anthracite coal shipped down the Schuylkill in each year, from the opening of the navigation in the year 1825 to the 1833, inclusive: Showing the number of shippers in each year of quantities under 50 tons-from 50 to 300 tons-from 300 to 1000 tons-from 1000 to 4000 tons -4000 to 10,000 tons-10,000 to 20,000 tons-and above 20,000 tons. The quantity shipped to intermediate places between the mines and Philadelphia -the quantity to Philadelphia, and the total quantity shipped from Schuylkill county in each year. of of Pennsylvania (Anthracite) Coal. Foreign (Bituminous) Coal. Lehigh. Schuyl- awanna. wa'r 1st br't to mak't year ending Year. into U.S.fed into consump bushels 1st April. Per cent. Lehigh. Schuyl. U. S. tion. each. 1827 32,074 29,493 5,000 66,567 43,115 700 1650 1,127,388 180 1,127,208 37,5748 1828 30,232 47,181 8,000 85,413 58,567 650 17 906,200 1,743 904,477 30,149 9 1829 25,110 78,293 7,000 12,000 122,403 73,413 650 650 750 1,272,970 4,758 1,268,212 42,2747 1831 40,966 81,854 54,000 50,000 1830 41,750 89,984 43,000 18,000 192,734 104,403 650 650 226,820 142,734 6 5 10 1,022,245 1,640,295 12,480 1,627,815 54,260 4,329 1,017,916 33,930 650 550 750 2,358,037 From these statements it will appear that from the first com mencement in 1820, when 365 tons were brought from the Lehigh, the quantity had increased to nine thousand five hundred and forty-one tons in 1824. The next year, 1825, (the first in which toll was paid on coal brought down the Schuylkill) the whole quantity brought down on both the Lehigh and Schuylkill was thirty-three thousand,six hundred and ninety-nine tons. The consumption of the year ending 1st April, 1833, is estimated to have been three hundred and eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-one tons, showing an average rate of increase of more than thirty-six per cent. per annum in the seven years from 1st April, 1826, to 1st April, 1833. The consumption of Coal varies much according to the greater or less severity of the winter. An early and severe winter greatly increases the consumption as well by the necessity of using more to supply the usual warmth as by its prevention of supplies of wood, in consequence of the freezing of the streams. If the last and the present winters had commenced as early, and been as severe as the winter of 1831-32, there would have been little or no surplus stock remaining on hand on the 1st of April. The certainty of supplies-the price, as well as the greater or less severity of the winter, all affect the consumption, An adequate amount of capital invested in the business by different (Continued on page 272.) For a table of Foreign Coal imported into Philadelphia from 1820 to 1830, see Reg. Vol. vii. page This owing to the mild season is probably 150,000 400.-ED. REG. -ED. REG. D Statement of the quantities of coal and by whom mined and transported on the rail roads in Schuylkill county in the year 1833, and the quantity shipped by each miner down the canal as ascertained by the published statements of the rail road companies and the permits granted by the Schuylkill navigation company. Total quantity shipped down the canal by 49 miners and shippers 202266 (Continued from page 270.) hands, is the best guarantee that can be given that the supply shall be equal to the demand and the prices reasonable. The coal business in Pennsylvania is yet in its infancy, and has labored under a want of experience in all its branches, the modes of raising, mining and transporting it-the uses to which it was applicable-the quantity that could be introduced into consumption, had originally no basis of calculations to rest upon, and have been undergoing changes and modifications every year since the business commenced. To the 12th. I have heard the number of boats used in the coal trade on the Schuylkill navigation last season estimated as amounting to near six hundred, the use of them by individuals and companies respectively must have been in proportion to the quantity of coal sent down to them. There are some now building, but not enough to re-place those which are so much worn out as not to be worth repairing. I have no doubt however, that the boats which can be used on the canal the approaching season are sufficient to bring more coal to market than the means of all now engaged in the business both individua's and companies will enable them to send. If five hundred boats were actually employed in sending coal to market the last season they did not average but 591 tons taken down by each. I estimate their average capability at at least fifty per cent more. It has until lately been impracticable with any reasonable certainty to estimate No one would have been believed, who should have predict the quantity or the rate of f. eight at which coal could be brought to ed ten years ago that the consumption of the year ending in market. The extremely high freights paid in 1832, a part of the seaApril last would exceed 300,000 tons, and that the price would son more than one half of the value of the coal after it was brought be reduced more than three dollars per ton, yet in that short down, induced the building of a larger number of boats, in addition, than full employment at remunerating rates of freight could be had space of time, all this has been effected by the improvements, as for the past seasons. well in the mining region as in the rail ways and canals, chiefly 13th Query. "What number of colliery establishments is now workthe fruit of the enterprise and capitals of companies withouted by individuals in the coal region and how many by incorporated which it is a matter of doubt whether the consumption would companies?" now reach 50,000 tons in a year, or rather whether the trade itself would have had sufficient importance to deserve the name. A large proportion of the whole quantity brought to tide water is consumed in warming manufactories, in steam engines, and the various other purposes in manufactories, and the mechanic arts to which it has been found to be so admirably adapted. About 15000 tons were purchased last year for the town of Lowell alone now rated the third in New England, it is situated about twentyfive miles from Boston, and has been built entirely since the coal trade began, and is famous for the manufactories conducted by nineteen incorporated companies having an aggregate capital of more than six millions of dollars. 11th Query."What amount of capital do you suppose has been invested by individuals in the coal business and improvements connected therewith?" To the 11th-The amount of capital invested in the improvements made by the Lehigh, the Delaware and Hudson, the Schuylkill navigation and the incorporated rail road and coal companies, together amount to about ten millions of dollars; as the stock and loans of all of them is mostly held by individuals, it may be considered as capital invested by individuals in the coal business, and improvements connected therewith; of the amount of the separate individual investments I cannot form any satisfactory estimate. The amount of capital actually invested is however, comparatively very small. Many of the contracts for the purchase of lands and town lots in the Schuylkill coal region have been cancelled and the terms of others not complied with. 12th Query. "What is the number of boats now used in the coal trade on the Schuylkill navigation by individuals and companies respectively, and what quantity of coal are they capable of sending to market yearly?" To the 13th. I do not know the number of colliery establishments now or at any period of last year worked by individuals in the coal region. Each individual or company engaged in mining coal on his or their own account in one or more openings in one or more coal veins has a eolliery establishment. With this view of the subject there are three colliery establishments in Schuylkill county worked by companies incorporated by the laws of this state, and I regret my information does not enable me to state the number of individuals who are, or were last year engaged in mining coal on their own account. By the statement which I have made and before referred to, accompanying these answers, the committee will see that two hundred and fify-seven persons and companies were engaged in transporting coal down the canal on their own account, during the last year, but a large proportion of them had nothing to do with mining the coal, and I know a number whose names do not appear as shippers that were engged in mining and had colliery establishments of their own. The quantity of coal mined at the colliery establishments of individuals which was shipped down the canal tons. 167,500 14th Query." Were the inning business confined exclusively to individuals, would it not necessarily fall into the hands of rich capi talists?" To the 14th. I have no doubt if the mining business was confined exclusively to individuals that a large proportion of it would necessarily fall into the hands of rich capitalists. Respectfully submitted by Philadelphia, March 28, 1834. JOHN WHITE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. VOL. XIII.-NO. 18. PHILADELPHIA, MAY 3, 1834. REPORT ON THE COAL TRADE. APPENDIX. (Continued from page 272.) No. 17. WILKESBARNE, Nov. 17, 1833. Samuel J. Packer, Esq. Dear Sir-Your favour of the 7th instant was duly received. I avail myself of the first moment of leisure to give you" some account of the discovery of the Mauch Chunk coal, and the measures devised, at an early day, to bring it to Market.' A hunter first discovered the black earth that covers the coal, at the old mine at Mauch Chunk, and reported the extraordinary appear ance to Jacob Weiss, Esq., an intelligent gentleman, who resided at Lehighton, within ten or twelve miles of the spot. An examination was immediately made, and anthracite coal found within ten feet of the surface. The land being extremely rough and barren, had not been appropriated, but was, forthwith, taken out of the land office, by Mr. Weiss, and a company formed, principally of public spirited citizens of Philadelphia; the mine was partially opened, and some small parcels taken to the city. The difficulty of kindling the coal, and the facility of obtaining that from Liverpool and Virginia, prevented its introduction into use; and this, with a hundred other projects of the day, slept--was forgotten by the public, and scarcely remembered by the owners of the stock. NO. 330. ving us liberty, for ten years, to take what coal we pleased, and to use what lumber we could find and might need, on their tract of ten thousand acres of land; the only consideration exacted being-that we should work the mines, and every year take to the city a small quantity of coal-the coal to remain our own. The extremely favourable terms of the lease, to us, will show how low the property was then estimated; how difficult a matter it was then deemed to bring the coal to market, and how great the obstacles to bring it into The situation of Mauch Chunk, in the midst of barren mountains, and a sparse population, rendered it necessary to obtain provisions, teams, miners, ark builders, and other workmen, from a distance. I made immediate arrangements to enter in business, and on the 8th June arrived at Lusanne, (fifty miles from Wilkesbarre by the then travelled road,) with my hands, and took up my very comfortable quarters with Mr.Klotz. full of rocks, and the imperfect channel crooked; in less than eighty rods from the place of starting, the ark struck on a ledge, and broke a hole in her bow. The lads stripped themselves nearly naked, to stop the rush of water with their clothes. At dusk they were at Easton, fifty miles. On Wednesday morning they sailed from Easton, Peter Hawk, pilot; Daniel Blain and Joseph Thomas, assistants, Rhoads and the other bands returning; and at night the ark arrived at Black's eddy. Thursday, 11th, went six miles below Trenton. Here James Gedders, a new pilot, took her in charge, Hawk returning. Friday, 12th, arrived at Burlington-13th, to Ten Mile point-Sunday, 14th, arrived at the city at 8 A. M.-Monday, unloaded and delivered the coal to Messrs. Steelwaggon & Knight, selected by Mr. Cist, as our agents. On Tuesday the 9th of August, I being absent, and there being a fresh in the river, Mr. Cist started off my first ark, 65 feet long, 14 feet wide, with 24 tons of After twenty years repose, the subject was awaken-coal-John Roads, pilot-Abel Abbott, [see note 1,] ed by the late war. Jesse Fell, associate judge of Lu- Daniel Blain, Jonathan Mott, Joseph Thomas, and John zerne county; one of the most public spirited and esti-Thomas, on board as assistants. The stream wildmable citizens of Wyoming, after various experiments, had shown the practicability of burning anthracite coal in grates; and the article had been extensively used in Wilkesbarre and the neighbouring towns, for several years previous to the commencement of hostilities; and the value of it here was known and properly appreciated. Commerce being suspended with England, and the coasting trade interrupted by British cruisers, so that neither foreign nor Virginia coal could be procured, fuel of all sorts, and especially coal, for manufacturing purposes, rose in Philadelphia, to very high prices. Jacob Cist, of Wilkesbarre, my intimate and much lamented friend, had derived from his father a few shares of the Lehigh Coal company's stock. Sitting by a glowing anthracite fire, one evening in his parlour, conversation turned to the Lehigh coal, and we resolved to make an examination of the mines at Mauch Chunk, and the Lehigh river, to satisfy ourselves whether it would be practicable to convey coal from thence by the stream to Philadelphia. Mr. Robinson, a mutual friend, active as a man of business, united with us in the enterprsie. Towards the close of 1813, we visited Mauch Chunk-examined the mines-made all the enquiries suggested by prudence respecting the naviga. tion of the Lehigh, and made up our minds to hazard the experiment, if a sufficiently liberal arrangement could be made with the company. Our propositions were met with the utmost promptitude and liberality, by Godfrey Haga, the president, Mr. Wampole, secretary, and other members. A lease was obtained, gi VOL. XIII. 35 Expenses of the passage, and hands down Ark, (cost high from inconvenience of $28 27 47 50 $75 77 130 00 24 00 96 00 5 00 $330 77 So, that, in the first experiment, the coal cost us about fourteen dollars a ton in the city. partners Messrs. Hauto and Hazard, he took measures to obtain possession of those mines, and a charter for the Lehigh Navigation and Coal company. The rest is matter of public history. I have been somewhat minute in giving you these de tails, because this ark was the pioneer, and led off the coal trade by the Lehigh to Philadelphia, now so ex- As one of the pioneers in the great work of introductensive and important. This effort of ours might be re-ing the use of Anthracite coal into our cities and upon garded as the acorn, from which has sprung the migh- the sea board, I cannot but look back with pride and ty oak of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company. pleasure, upon the success which has followed and But while we pushed forward our labours at the grown upon our humble exertions, a success infinitely mine-hauling coal-building arks, &c., we had the beyond the utmost stretch of our imaginations. Judggreater difficulty to overcome of inducing the public to ing from what has been accomplished within the last use our coal when brought to their doors, much as it ten years on the Lehigh, on the Schuylkill, and by the was needed. We published hand-bills in English and Hudson and Delaware Canal company, I do not quesGerman, stating the mode of burning the coal, either in tion that, in less than ten years more, Anthracite coal grates, smith's fires, or in stoves. Numerous certificates from the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, will be in were obtained and printed from blacksmiths and others, extensive use throughout the Genessee country, on the who had successfully used the anthracite. Mr. Cist lakes, at Detroit, Kingston, York, Montreal and Quéformed a model of a coal stove, and got a number cast. bec. Together we went to several houses in the city, and prevailed on the masters to allow us to kindle fires of anthracite in their grates, erected to burn Liverpool coal. We attended at blacksmiths' shops, and persuaded some to alter the Too-iron, so that they might burn the Lehigh coal; and we were sometimes-obliged to bribe the journeymen to try the experiment fairly, so averse were they to learning the use of a new sort of fuel, so different from what they had been accustomed to.Great as were our united exertions, (and Mr. Cist, if Note 2.-The fact may not be uninteresting, that we they were meritorious, deserves the chief commenda- were obliged to pay four dollars, and for much of the coal hauled, four dollars and fifty cents a ton, over an tion,) necessity accomplished more for us than our own labours. Charcoal advanced in price, and was difficult exceedingly rough road of nine miles, where now by to be got. Manufacturers were forced to try the expe- rail way, it is transported for twenty-five cents a ton. riment of using the anthracite; and every day's expe- Such are the triumphs of human industry and art! Such rience convinced them, and those who witnessed the is the difference between the first experimental steps fires, of the great value of its coal. Josiah White, then in a great undertaking, and the work perfected by caengaged in some manufacture of iron, with character-pital and skill. istic enterprise and spirit, brought the article into successful use in his works, and learned, as we have understood, from purchases made of our agent, its incomparable value. Note 1.-My friend, Mr. Abiel Abbott, who kindly volunteered his services to see the ark through the rough water, and to whose spirit we were mainly indebted for saving her from sinking when she stove on the rocks, is now justly raised by merit to the highly responsible station of superintendent of the Lehigh Navigation and Coal company's extensive business at Mauch Chunk. All which is respectfully submitted, by No. 18. We sent down a considerable number of arks, three out of four of which stove and sunk by the way. Heavy however, as was the loss it was lessened by the sale, at moderate prices, of the cargoes, as they lay along the shores, or in the bed of the Lehigh, to the smiths of Allentown, Bethlehem, and the country around, who drew them away when the water became low. We were just learning that our arks were far too large, and the loads too heavy for the stream, and were making prep arations to build coal boats to carry eight or ten tons each, that would be connected together when they arrived at Easton. Much had been taught us by experience, but at a heavy cost, by the operations of 1814-15 About the year 1800, a Mr. William Morris, who Peace came, and found us in the midst of our enter-owned a large tract of land in the neighborhood of Port prise. Philadelphia was now opened to foreign com- Carbon,procured a quantity of coal, and took it to Philmerce and the coasting trade resumed. Liverpool and adelphia, but he was unable; with all his exertions, to Richmond coal came in abundantly, and the hard-kind- bring it into notice; and abandoned all his plans, reling anthracite fell to a price far below the cost of ship- turned, and sold his lands to Mr. Pott, the late propriment. I need hardly add, the business was abandoned, etor. From that time, to about the year 1808, no farleaving several hundred tons of coal at the pit's mouth, ther efforts to use it were made. About the time, in and the most costly part of the work done to take out cutting the tale race, for the Valley Forge on the some thousands of tons more. Our disappointment and Schuylkill, they struck on a seam of coal, which induclosses were met with the spirit of youth and enterprise. ed David Berlin, a blacksmith in the neighbourhood, to We turned our attention to other branches of industry, make trial of it; his success was complete, and from but on looking back on the ruins of our (not unworthy) that period, it has been partially used. exertions, I have not ceased to hope and believe that the Lehigh Navigation and Coal company, when prosperity should begin to reward them for their most valuable labors, would tender to us a fair compensation at least for the work done, and expenditures made which contributed directly to their advantage. Extracts from the First Report of the Pottsville Board of So early as 1790, coal was known to abound in this county; but, it being of a different quality from that. known to our smiths as bituminous coal, and being hard of ignition, is was deemed useless, until about the year 1795, when a blacksmith, named Whetstone, brought it into notice, by using it in his smithery. His success induced several to dig for coal, and, when found, to attempt the burning of it; but the difficulty was so great, that it did not succeed. I mentioned that Josiah White had used coal sent down by us. Sagacious, ardent, and of expanded views, no mind in the city was more capable of seeing at a glance, to what account the vast deposits of coal might be turned. Perfecting an artificial navigation along a rapid river, was to him a familiar enterprise. With his In the year 1812, our fellow citizen Col. George Shoemaker, procured a quantity of coal, from a shaft sunk on a tract he had recently purchased on the Norwegian, and now owned by the North American Coal company, and known as the Centreville mines. With this he loaded nine wagons, and proceeded to Philadelphia; much time was spent by him in endeavouring to introduce it to notice, but all his efforts proved unavailing. Those who deigned to try it, declared Col. Shoemaker to be an imposter, for attempting to impose stone on them for coal, and were clamorous against him. |