Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-12

There were only three States in the
whole union whose coal product in 1898
was less than that of 1897. These were
Illinois, Montana and Oregon. The pro-
duction in Illinois fell off 1,473 459 tons, all
of which was due to the labor troubles
which prevailed for the greatest part of
the year in that State. The decrease in
the other two States were comparatively
unimportant. Among the bituminous coal
producing States the largest increase was
in Pennsylvania, in which State 1861, 1853
tons were added to the bituminous pro-
duct of 1897, and the total amount mined
in 1898 reached the maximum figures of
S5,155,S44 tons. The next largest increase
was in the output of West Virginia, whose
product was augmented by 2437, 900 tons,
Ind reached total of is 1886, 119 short tons,
about 10 per cent. less than the produc-
ton of Illinois, which holds second place
in the rank of coal producing States.
Ohio, which comes fourth, shows an in
creased production of 2,2S0000 tons, and
reached a total of IA, 4760 900 short tons
These four States-Pennsylvania, Illinois,
West Virginia and Ohio-are the four
States whose product has exceeded 10, 0O0,-
OO0 in any one year.
1t may be contended that at some per-
iod in the future a successful substitute
for coal may be discovered, but we must
bear in mind the extreme cheapness of
coal and the possibility of so economizing
consumption that 214 pounds OF coal per
hour will produce one horse power on the
average. equal if coal is valued at U.s. per
ton to one horse power for ten hours per
day for Id 1t does not. therefore appear
probable that substitute of equal power
is likely to be discovered at anything ap-
preaching such a cost, and what will hap
pen as coal becomes dearer in this eoun-
try, will be a gradual transference of the
manufacturing operations which supply
the world TO countries where the cheap
est coal is produced.-Amer.can Manufac-
turer.
G. H. Holiday will move his foundry
from Manchester Ohio to St. Adams, w
Va, receiving a bonus from the town
council of 3.000-S1 600 to be paid ten DAYS
after the foundry IS in operation, s., 900 one
year later and $1,000 at the end of the
second year. Holidays foundry is to
furnish cinders for street improvements
in return.
The plant of the Pioneer Pottery Co.,
At East Liverpool, is offered for sale.
Statistics furnished by the American
Iron and Steel Association show that the
total amount of pig iron produced by
West Virginia furnaces the past year TO
be S5,59S tons. Of this amount half was
bituminous and half Bessemer pig iron.
The wage committees of the Sheet Man
ufacturers' Association and the workers
will be held in Pttsburg June 49, The
members C. the conference committee rep
resenting the manufacturers are A. w
Brown, of the Cambridge Iron and Steel
Company, of Cambridge Ohio; N E. Whit
aker, of the Whitaker Iron Co., of Wheel
ing, W. Va. E. NJ. Caldwell of the Aetna
Standard Iron and Steel Company. Mar
tins Ferry, Ohio; ]. Reeves, of the Reeves
Iron Company. New Philadelphia, Ohio; ].
W. Warner, of the Strudhers Iron and
Steel Company. Struthers, Ohio r. ].
Beatty, of the Midland Iron and Steel
Company, Muncie Ind, and John Jarrett.
secretary of the Manufacturers Asso-
citation.
The president of the National Steel
Company will visit the property of the
combine at Mingo this week to person
ally inspect the improvements being made
there.
The 10 per cent. advance asked by the
chimney workers at the preliminary con-
terence held last Wednesday was refused
by the manufacturers The workers think
they could easily have settled at last
years scale. but they insisted on the ad-
vance.
lot in the business quarter of New
Martinsville sold last week for one hun
ared dollars per front foot. This is a
pretty good figure and indicates that late
oil developments in Wetzel are stiffening
prices up considerably.
The Steubenville pottery will not close
down this year before July l, when 1t Will
probably be idle for week or two while
necessary repairs and improvements are
made.