The morning call., 1892-07-25
OUR COAL PRODUCT.

The charts Just published by the Census
Bureau on the coal product of the country By
States convey information which is useful,
if not quite new.
The total product OF coal in the United
States in the census year 1889 was III, 229,-
513 tons, which was double the product re-
ported in the census OF $780, though about
$1,000, coo tons less than the coal product
OF Great Britain in 1890. OF this quantity
nearly One-third, or about d, COO. 4S7 tons,
vas anthracite, and something over two
thirds. or 95 629, 026 tons. was bituminous or
Ignite
This coal was mined from four great beds.
OF these the first is the small anthracite
eoalbed of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
which underies about 40 square miles of
land. Small as it is, it produces over
45. GOO Of tons Of coal per year, affords
work to thousands Of miners. aud furnishes
the people of the East with their CHEF sup
ply Of domestic coal. There is some an
thraCite coal in Ea sern Virginia, and small
quantities have been found in Colorado and
New Mexico. but they cut no figure. Mining
has ceased in Eastern Virginia
The second coalhed is the Appalachian
biuminOus field. which stretches from the
border of Western New ork through Penn
sylvania. Ohio, West Virginia. Kentucky
and Tennessee into Alabama. From this
field over twO-lhrds OF the coal used in this
cout try is derived, and there can hardly be
question as TO its extension into districts
yet unexpl0rej.
The third bed is the one which underies
most Of Illinois, parts of Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri and Kentucky, ana which runs
through the Indian Territory into Texas.
Ihs field underlies larger territory than
the Appalachian field. but the coal is light,
deficient In carbon, and is exclusively used
for local purposes. Il answers well enough
for home use. but it cannot compete with
the Appalachian coal in outside markets.
There appears to be vast quantity Of il,
and lis grade varies widely.
Finally, coal is found throughout the
Rocky Mountain region, not only in the car
boniferous formation but also in the creta-
ceous. OF the extent Of the bed no coniec-
ture can be formed, the country being still
only partially surveyed. Excellent Ignite
coal, some OF which is almost as good as the
Pennsylvania anthracites, is mined in
Wyoming. Colorado and New Mexico.
Were ii not for the cost Of transportation
we should draw al our coal supply from
Wyoming or Colorado, unless there should
be great reduction in the price Of Van
couyer coal, our present principal source 0f
supply. TIE coal which has been found in
tits State is unfit for steam or domestic pur-
poses. Better grades are mined In Oregon
and Washington and eventually the latter
Stale may lie able to supply the coast and
emancipate Us from our dependence on the
British colony.
The profits which are realized by the
| owners Of coal mines and coal-dealers can
! be estimated by comparing the market
| price of coal with the official returns Of its
! cost at the mines Wellington coal is now
| quoted in this market at IS a ton, ana con-
sumers are paying 50 or more. The cost Of
| coal, however, when placed On cars at the
| mines, is stated rs being s. 26 IN Wyoming
| 81 81 in Colorado, 81 So in this State "a
| cents in Ohio and II cents In Pennsylvania
| The difference represents the cost Of trans
! pOrtation and the profit the coal-miners and
| the dealers divide. 1t would have been less
! in tie East but for the combination among
| the great producers which was effected
some twenty years ago. Here the only pro-
| tectloD which the consumer can hope for is
that which results from an occasional glut
| OF coal IN this market. produced by heavy
| shipments from Australia. Such q glut oc.
! CURED couple of months ago, when car
| goes were offered as low as IS 80. But the
! effect OF this was to check imports, and il is
| quite on the cards that by next winter the
market may be in condition which will
permit an extra turn Of the Dunsmuir screw.