The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-08
COAL PRODUCTION FOR 1897
Largest On Record. With the Average
Price the Lowest.

washington, April From a prelino-
mary statement compiled by E. ". Par
ker statistician of the United States geo
logical survey, it is shown that the total
output of coal in the United States in
1877 amounted approximately TO 19S. $50
snort tons, with an aggregate value of
sI9o' 1U,U0U. a fraction less than S1O0 per
ton Compared with 1896 this shows 2 n
increase in tonnage OF $40 900 tons or
about 3.3 per cent The increase in the
value of the product was only 81 100 0G0 a
little less than nine-tenths of / per cent.
The amount of coal produced in 1897 was
the largest on record. The average value
per ton was the lowest per ton. contin-
uinS the declining tendency which has
been shown, without any reaction. for the
past six years. The increase in produc-
ton and the decline in value was con
fined TO the output of bituminous coal.
The anthracite production in PennsyIva-
MIA decreased nearly two and a quarter
million tons, from "A, 346,0S1 short tons.
Of 1000 pounds. TO 81, 1913 40S short tons in
1891 while the average price received at
the mines per short ton was $l.65 Ter
short ton GlS5 per long toni in both
years. This is not an increase, but It is
much better than a loss. one cent per
ton meaning a total OF more than MALT a |
million dollars. In obtaining this aver |
age price for anthracite coal per ton it !
must be remembered that only marketable ]
sizes are considered. and the item If /
'colliery consumption" usually consisting |
Of culm. or waste, and an otherwise |
valueless product IS not included. Ex-
Guiding this factor the marketable product |
of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania during
1897 was 2.637.S64 long tons, against "a
1S>. $50 long tons in 1895.
The fact that the bituminous production
should have shown an increase Of 500. 900
tons in spite OF the prolonged strike in
the competitive fields OF Pennsylvania.
Ohio, West Virginia. Indiana and Illinois
-four % them being the largest coal pro-
dIcirs states. aggregating nearly 100 ~
al0 tons. Or more than two-thirds OF ;he
entire output. may he taken IS an evil
derce OF the wonderful capacity of Cur
developed bituminous mines.
OF The % luminous coal producing
states there were only SIX IN which the
production in lS1- was less than IN tEe
preceding year. These SIX were Ceo;gi
Indian Territory. Kansas. Nebraska. Otio
and Oregon In 6fteea q them tLe oU.-
out was The largest ever obtained. OF Il
ne i've competitive states previously
mentioned. only one COhiol had a dscreas-
d production n 1897. IN p out os the = .
states producing bttuminous coal tna
average price Per Ton n 1871 was less than
: WIS II I>4f the general average for
he United States being s cents in Isss
nd SIS in IS27. The decline off cents on
total product in 1897 ~ 1i5 ro1D tcns
e7-sser.s decrease of something over
> 9oo cd from what would have besn tn
.alle K the price had been 20 same IS
: Vas in 1875. Considering tas indus ~ g
- states. Pennsylvania holds her usual q
ostlon- TIE combined prod % an :
s-act:s and bltuminous Goals from he e
-eyStore state amounted u Is - 70 r
zo-; tons, nearly - per GER. e 80 to.-l :
@;Pa- - - +
Illinois remains II second place wth C
pa. of q u;c.e ever ? 10 - sI7rt ,o,s =
rss. Virginia comes th'-I. having IL =
-aase6 he- o9t7ut nearly - on tens over =
g ana leading Ohio 7sc2 cores a.
)u-:A. by rea-,y 10 a10 A-ahsrra
cached re- maximum cytp1t C: 90 80
rs and stands s:ta. iowa s'xt- lacked :
-.y & - tc-s % -elch' ~ g 5000 .oos !.
-s-y2a1d produced 44i= ~ cons aad Il !,
ara 2 N.-lz ove- 90 90 torz
Tr4 statement = bas4d Dpca z~,ua' - p.
.-cs from mines rePresz l-I-z = 7e- &C. q: :
re SOFA precinct. II css@s where - >.
ms aarz no; Been received -arsfs. - !
mates calculated upon tie or7.iac:.aa r :.
sv.o4z years zavs oesa us-e
E~sry failure carries EEide box to SIC