The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-29
OUTPUT OF COAL IN 1898.
Over 100000 Tons Mined in Indi-
ana, IN Increase of $4,000.

ana, IN Increase of $4,000.
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-The statistics of
the production of coal in the United States
during 1898 have just been completed by
Edward w. Parker, statistician of the
United States Geological Survey. The COM
pilation shows that the total production OF
all kinds of coal in 1898 reached the enor-
nous figure of 219, s5. 993 short tons. an in
crease of nearly 10 per cent. over the out
put in 1897, which amounted in round figures
to a0.20,0O tons and was up to that time
the largest tonnage ever obtained in the
United States.
Great Britain's product in 1898 was 226. 2S7,-
312 short tons, a slight decrease from 1897.
Practically all of the increase in production
in the United States was in bituminous coal,
the output of anthracite coal in 1898 being
4~I.5l5,o43 long tons. an increase of only a
little over rocco tons over 1897. OF this in
crease 10000 tons were in the amount of
coal consumed at the collieries themselves.
so the total increase in the amount of coal
actually marketed was only 10000 tons.
There was a decrease in the selling value
or anthracite coal of S,S72,00, while
IS, $4,000
There were only three States in the Union
whose coal product IL 1898 Was less than
Nhdl VI = 1UCSt were lllkI.ClS, whose
production fell off 1,473. 459 tons, credited en-
tirely 10 labor troubles. and Montana and
oregon. whose decrease was comparatively
unimportant Among the bituminous-coal-
producing States the largest increase was in
PENNSYLVANIA, where 1857 .953 tons were add
ed 10 the 1897 bitumincus product, the total
amount mined reaching S., Is, S4l tons. West
Virginia's product increased 2.437.O 600 tons,
reaching a total of 10, 1851 l9 short tons. ONO,
with q total of "A, 476. 800 short tons, increased
2,2So!W0 tons. The next State in importance
Is Alabama, with a total output of 6.653. 600
tons in 1898. an increase of $50. COO tons. In
diana increased $4,000 tons, reaching a to-
tai of a little over 100000. Arkansas
showed a 40 per cent. increase.
Statistician Parker thus comments on the
showing made: The large increase in the
production OF bituminous coal and the COM
parative stationary condition Of the anthra-
cite industry calls attention to the increased
competition Of bituminous coal and its prod
ucts OF gas and coke for domestic consump-
ton with that of anthracite coal. For a
number of years the anthracite producers
nave experienced a great deal Of difficulty in
keeping the production within the market
demands, and incidentally restricting the
product necessarily increased the cost of
mining and correspondingly necessitates
higher selling prices for the coal. Each
advance in the selling price of this fuel
makes customers for the coke and gas prod
ucts of bituminous coal. The increasing use
of mechanical methods of mining
coal has materially reduced the cost of min
Ing, and while the anthracite producers are
faced with a continually Increasing cost of
their own product they are also obliged to
meet a competitor whose cost of produc-
ton has been steadily decreasing. 1t ap-
pears from the general condition of the
anthracite and bftuminous in
dustries that anthracite coal is becoming
more and more of a luxury, and it will
finally be restricted TO markets where the
price is merely incidental"
The actual production Of coal in Indiana
an increase over 1897 of s73,24 tons, valued
at $524, 925.