The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-28
THE PR0DUCTIcN OF COAL.

The census bulletin on coal will enable
statistics to revise their figures of coal
production in this country and throughout
the world. During the year 1890 the total
production Of coal in the United States
footed up al, DOG, 513 tons, which is an in
crease of 81 per cent during the decade.
We are still behind Great Britain as coal
producers. The British islands yield about
17O000,OO0 long tons of coal per year, which
is about equivalent 10 100 100000 of our tons,
being nearly 100000 tons more than We
produce.
Fifteen years ago the total coal produc-
ton Of the world was estimated at go, co.,
coo tons, of which the United Kingdom pro-
duced 125, 0OO, 900 tons and the Unied States
about 100000. Since then Great Britain
has increased her output about 40 per cent
and the United States about 800 per cent.
The British production seems TO have
reached its maximum for the present, while
the production of the United States Is so
steadily on the increase that before the end
of the century the United States will prob
ably be the largest coal-producer in the
world. When the last census was taken tie
aggregate coal production Of the United
States was 100000 tons in round figures.
OF this a., Geo. 600 tons were bitumiDous and
IS, 600 600 anthracite. The yield of bitumin-
GUS, which includes Ignite, has now
swollen to 950O0,0o0 tons, and the yield of
anthracite to 100000 tons. In 1887 Sar-
ward, the great authority on coal, figured
the yield of anthracite (Which is all or
nearly all produced in Pennsylvania at
"a, 600, 600 If this estimate was correct the
yield of anthracite has increased SO per
cent in four years.
The worlds product of coal must now
approximate 430OOO,OOO tons. Germany has
increased her product from $1,000, 600 tons in
1880 To 60, 000, 900 tons in 1890, France from
II, SOC, OoO tons to 100000; there has also
been a small increase in Belgium. 1t is not
known whether there has been lately any
material increase in Austria, Russia or
Spain. New South Wales has increased her
coal output from 100000 tons in 1875 to
3.000, eco tons in 1890. and there has been an
increase in Japan and British Columbia.
Taking the latest statistics all round. it APP
pears that the world yields, as above stated,
about 430000.000 tons of coal per year.
This is not all Of equal quality. At least
a quarter Of the German coal is Ignite, and
the coal mined III Colorado, Wyoming, Ore
gon and Washington belongs largely to the
same grade. Such coal will not do the work
Of good bituminOus coal, much less that of
anthracite. 1t does not contain carbon
enough TO generate calorfc for steam pur-
poses where high degree of power is re-
quired; it is quickly consumed and its heat
absorbed by the atmosphere. Such as it is
however it is the best we have on this side
Of the Missouri Valley, and it must always
operate as a bar to the establishment of
manufactures and other enterprises requir-
ing high degree Of steam power.
Coal is very unevenly distributed through
out the world. There is no coal in Africa
and none in Asia, outside the great coal
fields of China. In most of Australia, SO far
as is known, it is absent; the New South
Wales coal fields are the only mines worked.
Even on the continents, which are the chief
producers of mineral fuel, it is confined to
narrow areas. Take Great Britain out Of
the calculation, and Europe would not pro-
duce coal enough foT household purposes !;
in this country the productive coal
fields are embraced within an area
smaller than that of this State All
Russia, which including Siberia, covers
a larger area than the whole of North
America, only produces about million tons
ayear. OF course the world has not been ex-
haustIvely explored, and coal fields of mag
nitude may yet be discovered where they
are unsupported. Ores of high merit may
be found in the Washington veins. The
mines which are now being prospected in
northern Mexico may prove rich in a good
grade of coal. Beds may turn up in dozen
other localities. But as the case stands, the
great bulk Of the dry land on this planet is