Messrs. C. McKinney & Co
Binghamton NY
Gent
We propose to sell you Fifteen Thousand tons of our best [unclear] anthracite lump coal from the Diamond vein to be delivered on board of boats at our schutes at Binghamton during the season of canal navigation in 1852 for two dollars and ninety cents per ton of 2000 00 terms cash.
This will be the lowest price charged by our company for coal at your place this year.
For whatever of the above amt of 15000 tons you may require or desire broken & screened and prepared for domestic use, we shall make an additional charge of just what it cost to prepare it, not however to exceed twenty five cents per ton.
But in consequence of your giving us so large an order at this season of the year we will deduct twenty five cents per ton from the [unclear] of which may be considered as a commission and an inducement for you to make greater exertions [unclear] to introduce our coal more rapidly into general use.
The deliveries to commence in or about the time of the opening of your Chenango Canal & to continue through the season, or up to say Dec 1st next [unclear] in as near equal quantities as proportions [unclear] of the [unclear] amt may be [unclear] & convenient for you to ship.
As a further inducement for you to give us this order, we will if accepted give you the retail trade at your place, and for whatever amt or part of the 15000 tons you may see proper to set apart for your retail trade. We will agree to allow you to receive also [unclear] as you may direct through the coming season & winter of 1853 and we will further agree to take no orders for coal from any other parties in Binghamton during the continuance of this contract provided you do not charge over $3.75 per ton & it shall be understood that we do not interfere or take orders for coal from any parties on the line of the Chenango Canal between Binghamton & Utica (which market we will leave to you) at a price less than $2.90 per ton. We reserve the market at Utica for our own sales. If you find after proper exertion that you cannot dispose of the 15000 tons between Binghamton & Utica then & in that case we will allow you to [unclear] Utica & go on the Erie Canal as far as Rome with liberty to sell such portion of sd amt as you may wish.
If you would [unclear] act as our agent & attend to our business at Binghamton taking its entire representation [unclear] and of all that we shall have to do there next season we should be pleased to employ you & will pay you a salary of $400 per annum [unclear] to commence say in April next we furnishing all the help [unclear] teams, tools &c required at our expense. Expecting an early answer
I am most resp your obt svt
Geo W. Scranton Genl Agt