New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
COAL PRODUCT INCREASE
NEARLY TEN PER CENT OVER THE
OUTPUT FOR 1897.

Washington June 1.-The statistics OF the pro-
duction of coal in the United States in 1895 have
just been completed by Edward w. Parker, stat
istican Of the United States Geological Survey.
The compilation shows that the total production
OF all kinds OF coal In 1898 reached the enormous
gure OF 2l9 s5 ss3 short tons increase OF nearly
10 per cent the output in 1897, which amounted
in round figures to 20.220O0O tons. and was up TO
that time the largest tonnage ever obtained In the
United States.
Great Britains product in 1898 2os 2sSl2 short
tons a slight decrease from 1897. Practically all OF
the Increase in production in the United States
In btumnous coal. the output OF anthracite
coal in 1898 being i75l55i3 long tons an increase OF
only littleover 1000 tons 1897. OF this In
10000 tons In the amount of coal con-
sumed the coeres themselves. so the total
Increase In the amount Of coal actually marketed
was only 10000 tons There decrease In the
selling value OF anthracite coal OF 1872 600. while
the btuminous product increased In value $4,000.
There were only three States In the Union whose
coal product in 1898 less than that of 1897.
These were Illinois. whose production fell off
1913 TONS credited entirely to labor troubles, and
Montana and Oregon, whose decrease COM
paratvely unimpor,ant. Among the bituminous
coal producing States the largest Increase was In
Pennsylvania. where l05j79o3 tons were added TO
the 1897 bituminous product, the total amount
mined reaching &. l55,A tons
West Virginia's product increased 2,9I.OO tons
reaching q total or lls snort lonn ouio' WIN
total OF A. 49, 500 short tons increased 22so0o tons
The next State In Importance is Alabama, with a
total output OF 6553OOO in 1895 an increase OF
GO 900 short tons. Indiana increased $4,000 tons
reaching a total Of a little over 100000 tons. Ar
kansas showed n 10 per cent increase. Mr.. Parker
thus comments on the showing made
The large Increase In the production OF bituminous
coal and the comparative stationary condition OF
the anthracite industry calls attention TO the IN
creased competition OF btumnOus coal and It's
products Of gas and coke for domestic consuinp-
ton with that OF anthracite coal. For number
OF years the anthracite producers have experienced
a great deal OF difficulty IN keeping the production
within the market demands. and. Incidentally re,
strictng the product necessarily increased the cost
OF mining and correspondngly necessitates higher
selling prices for the coal. Each advance In the
selling price OF this fuel makes customers Tor the
coke and gas products OF bituminous coal.
The Increasing OF mechanical methods OF min
ing bituminous coal has materially reduced the cost
OF mining and while the anthracite producers are
faced with continually increasing cost OF tnelr
own product they are also obliged 10 meet COM
petitor whose cost OF production has been steadily
decreasing. IT appears from the general condltioh
of the anthracite and bituminous coal mining IN,
dustres that anthracite coal Is becoming more ana
more OF luxury, and II will finally be restricted 70
markets where the price Is merely ineioen'aL