 Coal in the immediate locality was of poor quality and of limited quantity.Better coal was being brought in from Fife and Tyneside by coastal shipping, and from Monklands by the Union Canal.The Duke of Buccleuch had coal pits in the Dalkeith area with superior coal, but road transport to the capital cost 4 shillings per ton from a final delivery price of 11 to 17 shillings.