The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-09
Production of Coal in 1907.

From a preliminary statement com |
piled by E. w Parker, Statistician of
the United States Geological Survey, |
it is shown that the total output of |
coal in the United States amounted. |
approximately, to 1913, 100000 "A frac
tion less than $1.OO per ton. Com
pared with 1896, this shows an in
crease in tonnage of 621O, 600 tons, or
about 3.3 per cent. The increase in
the value of the product was only 81
100000, little less than 8 of one per
cent.
The amount of coal produced in
1897 was the largest on record. The
average value per ton was the lowest
eyer known, continuing the declining
tendency which has been shown
without any reaction for the past six
years. The increase in production
and the decline in value was confined
to the output of bituminous coal.
The anthracite production in Penn
sylvania decreased nearly two and Il
quarter million tons, from As, 523, 2S7
long tons in 1896 to 4G, 531, ,SG4 long
tons in 1897, while the average price
received at the mines was Sl.S5 per
long ton in both years This is not
an increase, but it is much better
than IA loss, one cent. per ton mean
inga total of more than halfa million
of dollars.
The fact IT,, tne blruminous pro
.ductiOn should have shown an in
crease of 100000 tons in spite of the
prolonged strike in the competitive
fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West
Virginia, Indiana and Illinois -four
of them being the largest coal-pro-
ducing states, ,aggregating nearly lOO,
600, 600 tons or more than two-thirds
of the entire output may be taken
as an evidence of the wonderful capa-
city of our developed bituIninous
mines
OF the % bituminous coal-produc-
ing states there We're only six in
which the production in 1897 was less
than in the preceding year. These
six were Georgia, Indian Territory,
Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio and Oregon.
In fifteen of them the output was the
largest ever obtained. OF the five
competitive states previously men
toned only one (Ohio) had "A de
creased production in 1897 In 20 out
of the 20 states producing bituninous
coal the average price per ton in 1897
was less than it was in 1896, the
general average for the United
States being So cents in 1896, and 81
cents i'm 1897 The decline of IA cents
on total product in 1897 of 14G, 0O0,
600 tons represents decrease of
something over $2,OOO,OOO from what
would have been the value if the
price had been the same as it was in
1896
Considering the industry by states,
PENNSYLVANIA holds her usual posi-
ton. The combined product of an
thracite and bituminous Goals from
the keystone state amounted to 1906,
900, 600 short tons, nearly "a per cent.
of the total output. Pennsylvania +
percentage of the total bituminous
output was 81, her output of soft
coal being 54,OOO,OOO tons
Illinois remains in second place
with total Of little over %, 600, 900
short tons West Virginia comes
third, having increased her output
nearly 7OO,0 600 tons over 1896, and
leading Ohio, which comes fourth, by
nearly 100000 tons. Alabama
reached her maximum output OF
8. s93. 77O tons and stands fifth. Iowa
sixth, lacked only $1,000 tons o
reaching 5000, 600 tons. Maryland
produced 4,442 600 tons, and Indiana
little over 1000 900 tons EleveI
other states produced from one mil
lion to three million tons each, Will,
ten others report an output of les
than million tons each.
The foregoing statement is base'
upon actual returns from mines reI
resenting 80 per cent. of the tota
product. In cases where return
have not been received, careful est
mates calculated upon the productio
in previous years have been made, S