To commence business as a street-seller of coals requires little capital beyond the possession of a horse and cart. The merchants in all cases let street-sellers have any quantity of coals they may require till they are able to dispose of them; and the street-trade being a ready-money business, they can go on from day to day, or from week to week, according to their pre-arrangements, so that, as far as the commodity in which they deal is concerned, there is no outlay of capital whatever.
There are about 30 two-horse vans continually engaged in this trade, the price of each van being 70_l._ This gives £2100 100 horses at 20_l._ each 1200 160 carts at 10_l._ each 1600 160 horses at 10_l._ each 1600 20 donkey or pony carts, value 1_l._ each 20 20 donkeys or ponies at 1_l._ 10_s._ each 30
Making a total of 210 vehicles continually employed, which, with the horses, ---- &c., may be valued at 6550
This sum, with the price of 210 sets of weights and scales, at 1_l._ 10_s._ per set 315 ---- Makes a total of £6865
This may be fairly set down as the gross amount of capital at present employed in the street-sale of coals.
It is somewhat difficult to ascertain correctly the amount of coals distributed in this way among the poorer classes. But I have found that they generally take two turns per day; that is they go to the wharfs in the morning, get their vans or carts loaded, and proceed on their various rounds. This first turn usually occupies them till dinner-time, after which they get another load, which is sufficient to keep them employed till night. Now if we allow each van to carry two and a half tons, it will make for all 150 tons per day, or 900 tons per week. In the same manner allowing the 160 carts to carry a ton each, it will give 320 tons per day, or 1920 tons per week, and the twenty pony carts half a ton each, 40 tons per day, or 240 tons per week, making a total of 3060 tons per week, or 159,120 tons per annum. This quantity purchased from the merchants at 14_s._ 6_d._ per ton amounts to 115,362_l._ annually, and sold at the rate of 1_s._ per cwt., or 1_l._ per ton, leaves 5_s._ 6_d._ per ton profit, or a total profit of 43,758_l._, and this profit divided according to the foregoing account gives the subjoined amounts, viz.:--