The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-07

LONDON, Aug THE coal famine
throughout Great Britain and Europe is
not abating It is a curious thing that.
while coal was never so plentiful, it was
never so scarce as it is just now. This
may seem a paradox, but it is strictly true.
More coal is being produced in all parts of
the world than ever before, yet in all the
principal centres of consumption the de-
mand is greater than the supply. It is
probable that change is about to take
place, but during the last six or nine
months prices have risen from 30 to IS per
cent.
It is, of course, mistake to suppose that
the Boer war has Increased the consump-
ton of coal On the other hand, it has to
a small extent restrained the production
For instance, in 1888, the colIier1es of the
TransvaaI Cape Colony, and Natal turned
out 2, 487, 669 tons; but 1t is doubtful if last
year (1S991 they turned out as much as
1900 900 tons before the war put stopper
on some Of them, while the reduction IN
output this year to date must be much
greater.
The production of the United Kingdom
last year was 220. 065,G GOO tons, the pre-
yious largest output having been 202,
10000 tons, in 1897 The increase was
thus about Is 600 900 tons on the pre-
vious maximum, and the output OF 1899
was 1900, 600 tons greater tnan that OF
1883.
In the United States the increase
has been even more remar kable The
output OF 1899 is stated by the United
States Geological Survey at $50, $685.
973 TONS but by the British Board OF Trade
at 21S 376. 900 tons. The one estimate is
probably as much too high as the other
is too low. and we take 225, 000.0 coo tons
I IL
Is g. 0Go 600 million tons more than
the previous maximum Tin 1899 and no
less than $4,000, 600 tons more than in
1889, in which, however, the production
dropped from the previous year During
the present year Americas production is
far greater than in 1893, according to our
reports.
America, therefore is not only now
| producing more coal than we do, but is
| Increasing her output at q greater ate
than We are Going. Germany is the
| next largest producer, and last year
turned out 101, 622, 00G tons, bsing s.
S12, 600 tons more than the previous maxi
mum (1S9S), and "a coo Geo tons more than
| in 1889. France comes next with 80. 321-
| 06o tons last year. being 500, 000 tons above
previous record C1S9Sl. and 8,500,O00 tons
more than il 1889. Belgium comes fourth.
with q ,S1S, coo tons, which is a drop OF
about 10000 tons from the record on put
| Of 1898. but about 1900, 600 tons more than
that of 1883.
Following is the coal production in tons
of the world, few OF the smaller coun-
tries being omitted: Great Britain, $780,
| 6S5, 600; British possessions Is SEA. GEO;
| United States 225 600 090: German Empire,
| 1d1, 622, 000; France, 81, 331, Gee; Belgium,
p ,9i8 0G0; Russian Empire. IL 1S5. 000;
Austria-HUngary, II. 500 000; Japan, $780,
| 0R0
The entire worlds output for the year
| was 656, 773 zoe. This Is at least so, 600 000
| tons more than was ever before produced
| in any one year Yet it has all gone into
| consumption, leaving the world unsatisfed
| Of course, the consumption both in gross
and per head of population is naturally
! greatest in those countries which make
| most use of steam traction and Of steam
| machinery. But. while the largest aggre-
| gate consumption is in the United States,
| the proportion per capita is higher both in
| the United Kingdom and Belgium, in which
| coal is practically the only power-raiser.
| IN America there is a large employment
| of other fuel, and OF waterpower. Yet the
! consumption there of coal is simply ener-
| nous. The following shows in the prin-
| cipaI countries the coal consumption OF the
| past year:
United States, 1913. 4s7 eco tons. go tons
! per capita; United Kingdom, 153, 79S eco
| tons. 3-S3 tons per capita; Germany, S.
| f4t, 0eG tons, 1-62 tons per capita; Belgium
| 1S,349, 900 tons, 2.T5 tons per capita:
| France. 40. 921, 600 tons Ice tons per capita;
| AustTia-Hungary. Il, III 600 tons, 81 tons
per capita; Russia, 10 ia GOO tons, II tons
| per capita; italy, AHA 0G0 tons, II tons
per capita: Spain, 1929 600 tons, 10 tons
| per capita: India. 4. 65T, coo tons, .91 tons
per capita; Canada, $50, COO tons, 1-37 tons
| uer capita