Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-01-05
WEST VIRGINIA COAL.
Coal Trade Journal tells Some
thing

OF the Progress Made In the Past Year.
Great Increase in the Output of This
State Fairmont Region IL increas-
ing Wonderfully and Figures
of Interest.
The year 1900 says the Coal Trade
Journal, has been one OF the most
momentous In the historyAof this in-
portant industry; the United States
stands at the head Of the coal produc
ing countries of the world, as 1t is at
the head in so many other industries,
there has been much Of interest in the
coal business, the tonnage aud values
have been above those OF the preced-
ing year, and perhaps the NEST inn
portant feature Is the growth OF the
export trade, for our coal has gone to
many places during the past season
where 1t was new To the recipient,
aud it has had an effect upon the coal
trade Of the world, beyond compare so
far as the mere tonnage Is TO be reck-
oned; nc one can tell what the future
may bring forth in this particular,
but the tendency Is for all that Is
good to sur coal industries.
Production for the last three years
has been as follows:
Year Tons.
1893 .............. Al, 800, ISL
1899 ...... Al, 665. POI
1900 SIS, T85, 500
The entire soft coal trade began the
year under the stimulus OF most excit-
| t.,tf Il iah .t.rf. b.1e afd
had been carried over from the pre-
yious fall and during the FIRST quarter
of 1900 there was no doubt some bus
mess done on the basis price OF + hat
active period. When 1t came to an
adjustment OF wages for mining coal
throughout the United States all
rates toob an advance, In some In
stances amounting TO aboub 80 per
cent so that while there was a reaction
from the high prices had for soft coal
during the period named, at the same
time business was done during the
succeeding six months on range Of
values better than those of The same
period In 80 and 1t was not until the
last quarter that there began to APP
pear to be a surplus OF coal In some OF
the markets The idleness OF the an
thracite mines helped the soft coal
producer shipping coal to the east
ward during October and part Of No
vember to realize more per ton than
would otherwise have been the case.
Latterly the market has been quoted
as dull, with concessions on transient
trade; fortunately Il great deal OF the
business is on contract at fair prices,
and this will be carried over into the
tirst quarter OF next year, and with
good winter demand the business
ought to start on as even basis In
1901 as it did last year.
In the state OF West Virginia there
has been largely Increased produc-
ton and we are informed that the P0-
cahontas scores the largest tonnage Ia
its history as does the Chesapeake &
Ohio district, while the output from
the Fairmont In the aorthern part OF
the state, excels any record OF that
portion OF the state hitherto known,
for the coal Of that district is coming
more generally into use both east and
west and for foreign business. Ia or
der to secure stability Of prices and
proper distribution OF cars this entire
northern district has consolidated in
terests and thus should add to tom
mage likely to be done. The Elk Gar
den district also did larger tonnage
last year and gained considerably
from the fact that the miners en-
ployed there continued at work dur
ing the time of idleness la the adjoin-
I ing Maryland district. Kentucky will
also show an increase, as will TenneS-
see, while in Alabama the production
Is expected TO be about Is per cent
greater than la '99 which would make
the output about $500, 900 tons for
this year, chasing 1t the banner state
Of the southern group in coal produce
tion, after we, leave the borders OF
West Virginia. Prices at the mines
ia the southern states have ruled high
during the year, and steam coal has
been sold at$l.50 per ton and domes-
tic $l.75 to 81. at the mines and i
full demand for all that could be
turned out.
West Virginia is the largest OF the
trio Of eastern contributors its tom
mage sent to Chicago 10 1900 being
nearly !, 900, 900 tons against sos, 000
tons last year. To large extent It
may lie said that the shipment OF
West Virginia coal to the west has
reached the limit OF present transp0r-
tation facilities. Nearly $50, 900 tons
OF West Virginia coal were sold this
year to western railroads and ever
since that immense tonnage was con-
tracted for the carrying roads have
proved more or less unequal to the
task of transportation. Rail facili-
ties have been steadily improved, cars
and engines have been added to equip
ment, side tracks have been built and
double tracking has made notable
progress, but all this has not kept
pace with the opening Of new proper
ties in the stale In question. But,
notwithstanding this temporary OBJ