The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-01-19
STATISTICS ON COAL.
The Production for the Twelve Years from
1880 to 1901.

The Production FOR the Twelve 1eitrs from
1880 to 1891.
Out of the Census Office comes pham-
phet, edited and compiled by Joseph D.
Weeks, giving detailed statistics of the
manufacture of coke in the United States
for the years 1889, 1890 and 1891, as well
as consolidated statement concerning
the production Of coke for the twelve
years 1880 to 1891 The reports show the
great progress of the coking industry,
giving an estimate increase of production
for the twelve years of 244%. With the
exception of 1884 and 1871, each year
shows notable increase, the hiigest total,
| | sos, OBJ short tons, having been reached
in 1890, while, 1891 showed falling off
of about 1923 AS to the cause of this
remarkable expansion in the production
of coke the record states: "'The cause Of
this remarkable expansion in the pro-
duction of coke is, Of course, the equally
remarkable increase in the making Of pig
iron. A very large percentage, indeed
nearly all of the coke produced, is used in
the blast furnaces While charcoal and
anthracite are still used as fuels to con-
siderable extent in The manufacture of pig
iron, not only are the most Of the new
furnaces designed for the employment of
coke, but coke in many cases is supplnnt-
ing anthracite in those regions where this
fuel is found in great abundance, it hav
ing been ascertuincd that by the use of
coke mixed with anthracite the furnace is
capable of much greater production than
where anthracite alone is used
In addition to showing the wonderful
increase in the PRODUCTION Of coke in this
country, the review develops three very
important features OF the industry. First,
in the manner of production, it is found that
all coke is now made in the solid wall
oven, usually Of the beehive FORM with
the possible exception of few thousand
tons made either in pits, in ricks or on the
ground; and, notwithstanding many expe-
riments have been made with hue or re-
tort ovens, such as the Belgian oven, III
all cases it was necessary to return to the
old beehive.
The second important feature disclosed
is that all experiments made with q view
to coking what may he termed inferior
Goals, in sections of the country where the
fdistance from the great center Of coke
production along the Appalachian noun
tain is not too great, have been ahan-
d0ned, and that now inferior coal ia only
cooked in those sections where t}re'densaAd
is large and the distance to good cOking
Goals very great.
The third especially interesting feature
OF this report is the wonderful develop
ment shown Of certain sections OF the
country rs coke producers. The Councils
| Vile region has held the precmnece, not
outstanding Il slight decrease in the rei-
cen.nge of the production to the total
production,the production ofthe Councils
vile district in 1850 being 2,2C5,9JG short
tons, and the total production Of the same
year only $685. 800 short toss, willie in
1890 the Connellsville Production had only
increased to 6,464.I56 short tons. and ihe
total production jumped to Il.5tis,02l
tons. However. while the Connelsviilt
district held it's place NJ the largest pro.
Queer, the Alabama region near Birming.
ham, and the Pocahontas Flat Top region
Of Virginia aud West Virginia have come
Into notable prominence az coke produ'
GERS; the Alabama increasing from 81, 7Sl
abort tons in 1880 10 ! .aasl 49,; short ton'
in 1891, and while the Pocahontas Fa
Top was not.a produces in 1850, The aat
put from that district in 1881 WAS 81 e, ~
tons, with a probable increase for isss:
land 1888. The following table. showing
tthe production 81 coke In the Uhites