Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15

Interesting Coni Figures.
The most striking feature OF the
coal production of the United States
for 1900, according to tho recent report
of the Geological Survey, is that,
against all odds, the mining OF coal by
machines continued TO increase. While
the total increase in the product of
hituminous coal was IL, 263, 674 short
tons, the machine mined coal increased
from AZ, 963. 933 to 90, 100, 525 tons, an
increase of 1895, $50 short tons, or 20
per cent. The increase in the machine
mined coal was 80 FER cent OF the whole
increase in the bituminous coal pro-
ductiou.
The fight OF the Mine Workers. Union
against the machines IN Illinois re-
suited in scale SO high for the ma
chimes as to leays the operators no
profit on them. The number of firms
and corporations using machines has
Increased from 209 in 1897 to $50 in
1898, 30S in 1889 and 1923 in 1900 The
number OF machines used has Increased
from 1856 in 1897 to 2,622 in 1898, to
3, 10 in 1899 and to 3.907 in 1909. OF
the coal mined in Montana GO. 50 per
cent is mined by machines in Ohio,
40. So per cent; Al per cent in Kentucky
and one-third in Pennsylvania. More
than double the number Of machines
are in use in West Virginia than in
1899.
With the increase in the use of ma
chinery, however comes an increase in
the number Of cru ployes, from 4l0, G35
making ga days in 1889 TO AS, 706
making 212 days in 1900.
The wonderful progress in mining in
West Virginia is pointed out 10 the
report. With but one exception the
reports from this State have shown an
increase from year to year for 20 years,
the increase being about 1000, COO tons
u year. 1t has surpassed Ohio rs a
coal producing State and ia rapidly
overhauling Illinois. which now stands
second on the list to Pennsylvania.
West Virginia produced in 1900 g.
CAT, POT short tons, valued at s1s, 41G,
ST., AN increase of 1884, 2l2 tors, or
ZIG per cent, and an increase in value
of S., 1863, COB, or SO per cent. Penn
sylvania produced anthracite coal to
the amount of 81, 1857, 9l5 short tons,
valued at Ss5, 757. S51, decrease Of
3,050,090 short tons and decrease in
value of s2.38i. 279. The decrease is
ascribed to labor troubles.
Although Maryland suffered from
labor troubles in 1890 and the produc.
tion shows O decrease of 1872, T0S tons,
or over l6 per cent, the operators have
little cause for complaint, as in spite
of the loss in tonnage the value Of the
product increased $500, 1926, the average
price advancing from 76 to 9s cents.
In Maryland 5,3l9 men worked an
average of 203 days, compared with
1924 men in 1899 and 275 days.
Twenty-Five mines were involved in
strikes, and altogether 4, 1877 men were
on strikes for an average of 105 days,
or total OF 504, 544 working days. The
average price in 1900 was the highest
since 1883, but the production in 1899
holds the record. The production in
Virginia increased 2S7.9 tons, the
total production being 2, 393, 756 short
tons, the increase being 1877 per cent.
The Virginia coal is valued at SO, 123,-
222, the Increase in value being SO. 8
per cent. In 1899 Maryland stood eighth
in production and eleventh in the
value of the product. In 1900 it was
still eleventh iu production, but only
tifteenth in value of the product.