The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-31
GENERAL NEWS
OF INDUSTRIES

IeOoutly ieit uiihuolpula Oh eCloH
tiiic pilgrimage to the Palisades OF the
Hudson. to the ice caves and waterfalls
near the Upper Delaware river and
finally to the anthracite coal region,
writes as follows concerning the local
portion OF the class itinerary: From
Port Jervis we went by train to Homes
dale. where we took an observation car
on the gravity road for Carbondale
We had delightful ride for quite a
distance, when suddenly our train
stopped. and after waiting for while
word came to us thNt the engine had
busted, and we would probably be de-
tsined for some time. We entertained
ourselves exploring the region. and
were finally delighted by the appear
ance of fine large bear. led by two
Frsnchmen. The bear was from the
Pyrsnees mountains and could dance,
turn somersaults, shake hands, and
finally climbed telegraph pole almost
to the top. A train on road crossing
ours came to our assistancs after two
hours waiting, and we were carried on
to Carbonaale, where we visited the
large Erie coal mine.
''This mine e. pds eight miles in
one direction, fo .iles in another, with
u possibl wal. thirty five miles and
an underground communication with
Scranton. 1t is distinguished by its
electric lighting. which extends 600
yards, and for which the mine Is visited
by engineers from all parts of the
world. 1t is said to bs very dry, clean
mine, and an uncovered light can be
carried with safety to every part of it,
owing to the absence of gas. Our de.
scent in the cage took us no feet, and
from !there we walked two miles
through the mine to another exit We
saw the miners drill the holes, fill
them with powder, and place the fuse {.
Alta greater distance we heard the
consequent explosion and the breaking
Of the coal. Again nearer, we saw the
broken masses loaded into the cars and
carried of by the numberless mules
that seemed to haunt the darkest cor
nsrs and startls you, as your
light discovered them. We took
specimens of the Goa an
excellent anthracite. but not to be
compared with the Hazleton coal. The
visit was valuable lesson, aud new
to mcst of u.s. There is a great charm
IN auch an experience darkness,
the uncertainty OF path the circles OF
light from the miners caps, and from
our own torches; the miners them.
selves, with their cheerful, dirty faces.
all making striking pictures that will
1nct IAner N tNna1nnriua WA a
intslljgently and pleasantly guided by
three Of the men, and we made Il
chance acquaintance with many more.
A fiash-light photograph was attempt
ed of group Of miners, which seemed
to interest them very much. We left
the cool lower depths. with tempera
turs of 90 degrees, and emerged into
the hot, bright sunlight Of different
world. We went over to the huge
breaker. which we mounted and ex-
amined, and then we returned, very
dirty. to our hotel This was fitting
conclusion TO our three weeks pilgrim
age, in which we had studied 80 many
phases Of Natures work.
The New York Engineering andMin-
ing journal of last week continued q
long report Of the recent meetings of
salss agents in Coke Bros New York
tflice. II concludes this report as fol-
lows; Although we believe that for
their own benefit, the sales agents
would have acted most wisely in room
mending an output of 100000 tons
and even less. for August. it is still a
matter of some satisfaction to know
that they are fully alive to the folly Of
over-production. A monthly output
OF 2. 500, 600 tons means working on
half time, tut it also means stop to
tho threatened decentralization OF the
market. We fail to see why the orii-
nary laws Of demand and supply should
fail to apply to the anthracite coal. We
believe that If the agents would make
conservative estimates Of the amount
which the market could make during
certain period aud then produce that
amount and not more, prices would
take care of themselves very nicely and
the CD rators would not be accused of
breaking faith with each other, and
one dealer would not be much more
favored than another. Granting that
II would be we'll to sell at lower prices
in the spring than during the winter in
order to keep the colieries at work dur
ing the summer, which is manifestly
right and proper, 1t Is, nevertheless, a
matter to be regretted that some of the
companies controlled ty railroads
mine senselessly heavy quantities of
coal simply to benefit the traffic depart
ment OF the controlling railroad. Bat,
after all, these companies meet with
their just deserts sometimes, when the
losses of the coal department Offset the
profits of carrying the coal"
A Harrisburg dispatch says: Re.
ports to the department of internal af-
fairs show that the aggregate produc-
tion of anthracite coal In this state
last year was At 179,5 SOB tons. an in.
crease Of 1,444, 1S9 tons as compared
with that Of the previous year. The
greatest coal producing county Is Lu-
zerns which last year yielded IS, 255,
144 tons Lackawanna ranked second
with production Of IL 667, $50 tons
Scbuylkill county produced 9,992, 09j
tons, and Northum beriand S,731, 404
and Carbon l. $40. $50 tons. The pro-
duction of Cambria, Dauphin, Sullivan
and Susquehanns counties was very
much smaller in 1898 than the pre-.
yious year aud aggregated 2.O25, ,OS9.
The increased production Of last year
required the employment of 1924
more men. an increase from 129, 797 in
1899 to 1875. 02l. The average annual
production Of anthracite coal per man
was as follows: 1893, 342 tons; 1892
352 tons; 1891, 800 tons. 1890 9Sl
tons; 1885, 242 tons. The number
OF men employed In the lituminous
tisld in 1893 was 1900. The previous
year, rs, 7S0 The average annual pro.
duction OF bituminous coal per mar
for the FIVE years was az follows
1893, 551 tons; 1892. $50 tons; 1891, 904
tons; 1890. 600 tons; 1880, 505 tons,
The following table shows the fatal
accidents attending the mining of coaI
in the two regions: 1893, anthracite
AXE. bituminous 131: 1893 anthracite