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Show THE COAL UUESTIUN. Mlitll a Railroad be ltuilt to Coalville? On MomUy "evening a numer-niBly attended mass meeting w;is held in Coalvillo, the object buinn to obtain a public aud free expression of opinion in regard to the conduct of the Union I'aoitic company .with reference to the coal interests of Summit county. The speakars on the occasion wero Mjor J. H. Nounnan, C. B. Hawlej , A. Eldrodge and Bishop W. W. OlufT. They united in denouncing iho selfish, self-ish, unjust course pursuid by the Union Paeiflo company, which was fast crushing out tje chief indtistiy of Summit couuty, and oue of ths moat imK)rtantof tbe territory. Too following resolution was unanimously adopted, together with a preamble, setting forth the grievances which caused the people to complain, and with which eur readers are already acquainted: Itesolird, That wo will use our best endeavors to aitist in constructing a narrow-gauge railroad from this place by tbe most feasible route via Park city to Salt Lake city, as early ae practicable, and we do hereby earnestly earn-estly solicit aid and assistance from Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and D.ivis counties, t help in the early prosecution prosecu-tion of an euterprise bo evidently necessary for our protection against power that can apparently only be moved by an appeal to their selfish-nw, selfish-nw, an enterprise that will no doubt :e remunerative to inveitors, cive employment to hundreds of om miners, and open up an extensive trade in lumber, charcoal, etc. There is no question that the lime will come when a narrow-gauge railroad between Salt Lake and Coalville Coal-ville will be in operation. Such a road is a necessity at present; but tbe questions present thsuistlves tbe (acts of the case bsing considered-are considered-are the people able to build it? and then, could it be kept in operation ii the first cost naa provided for? We do not wish to discourage the enterprise, and would rather assist it; but people sht uld thoroughly canvass the situation, situa-tion, and weigh the possibilities before shouldering difficulties. The prime cost of the road as coutem-plated coutem-plated constructing and stocking-would stocking-would fall not far short ot 1,000,000. The figures are asily written or spoken, but pencilings nor words can dig down iills, bore mountains, fill gullies, fashion iron rails, construct cars and ocomotives; money alone can do ihis. However, tbe matter of build-ng build-ng and equiping the road mietit be accomplished. Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele aud Davis counties are all deeply interested in not only obtaining obtain-ing cheap fuel, but in sustaining home industry and developing local wealth. These counties might, with extra exertion and friendly co-operation, construct and utock the road. Then would follow a greater difficulty than that which now presents itself. A long and ruinous competition between be-tween the railroad companies would bo the result; and the fight would be an unequal one. On one side would be a gigantic corporation one of the greatest railroad companies in the world soulless, unscrupulous and vindictive; on the other a feeble company with inconsiderable resources. re-sources. The war would be one in which the community might for a time reap handsome benefits in the way of cheap coal, but would it not end il the narrow gauge company's ruin, or in driving it into compromise terms that would be most oppressive on the people? Were the road in operation, we believe the large majority major-ity of the people in the counties named would prefer to patronize it the benefits derived being equal than a4sist the Union Pacific company. The chief, and we might say, only business of the road, would be transportation trans-portation of coal. Tbe farm and garden gar-den and precious mineral products, and passenger traffic would amount to little towards keeping up the line. In order to receive the coal trade of the section indicated, coal must be sold at less rates than others ask for tho article; for while, the "best wishes for success," and the "influence" of the community might be thrown in favor ot the Coalville road, the money of the community would be given where it produced the greatest return. This is but human naturo and cannot be changed. If it nere otherwise there would be no competition in trade and commerce. Now, can Coalville, with its narrow-gauge narrow-gauge road to this city, successfully compete with the Union Pacific company in supplying coal to this market? We think no sano man will honestly assert that it can. The Union Pacific company has its coal beds, iU railroad, and money; and while it has to transport coal throe or four limes the distance from here to Coalville, it yet has the power, with the odds of expense against it, to drive any small competitor out of the field, even though it loses hundreds of thousands of dollars in the effort. Should a road be built to bummit, the question of bow many months or years it could be run would depend entirely upon the depth of the owners' pockets, and how much they would consent to give to the public or expend ex-pend in a war without hope of victory. vic-tory. We aro free to confess that this is an unpleasant state of aflaire; yet in fairness vb must admit that our Summit Sum-mit couuly friends, as well as the coal-buying people of the counties named, are completely in the power and at the mercy of tho Union Tacinc railroad company. Jay Gould Baid in this city that be would control the coal trade of Utah; and w.lh the , Union Pacific. Utah Central and : Utah Southern roads in his hands i were they all virtually are he is 1 doing it. Wo may rail against and 1 show our iudignatioa at the ungencr-; ungencr-; ous conduct o( the Union Pacific 3 company, but wc fear that it will accomplish ac-complish little good. We would it were otherwise. r What we have said above is in all kindnew to our Coalville friends and those who have taken ctivo interest in tlie matter of trying to remedy a gross wrong. Our sympathies are with them, but unless our judgment is violently in error, they are laboring without a chance of success. |