Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-11-26
OUR COAL SUPPLY.
Enough to Supply the World, Accord
Ing to Report Of Coal Mine
Inspector Sheridan.
.M'KlRLEY COUNTY LEADS.

The annual report of 10 z. Sheridan,
United States coal mine inspector, COW
ers 144 pages and reviews in detail the
coal mining industry In New Mexico.
1t Is of especial interest because Of the
account it gives of the new operations
in the Dawson and Willow coal fields
in Colfax county, and the recommended
tons for legislation that it makes.
While there has been a temporary fall
ing off of over $4,000 tons in the
amount of coal mined, compared to the
year previous, the inspector calls at
tention to the vast area of coal lands
and enormous available tonnage of
The competition Of fuel oil as bearing
upon production of coal in the terri
tory is discussed, and it is shown that
the development of other western in
dustries and settlements of the country
has more than compensated for the
market lost by competition of fuel oil.
This competition he predicts to be only
temporary, taking for his premises &C.
%currences of similar conditions here
tofore in other fuel oil and coal com
petitions.
The magnitude of the coal fields of
New Mexico Is little understood and
their importance still less appreciated.
AS is shown in the summary herein be-
low, a very conservative estimate
places the aggregate area of these coal
fields at 1866 S0 acres, or 2,133.3
square miles, and the coal contained
therein at S,173, $40 900 tons, an
amount more than twice as great as all
the tonnage of coal ever produced in
the whole United States, and which
has supplied the wants Of every indus
try of the nation since it's birth.
Near to California.
OF what vital Importance. then, will
| this, the nearest coal field become to
the great state OF California, with its
mining and manufacturing industries,
in the nearfuture, when oil reservoirs
are drained and coal will again be in
| demand for fuel. Arizona, as it's vast
mineral resources are developed. will
be dependent upon her neighbor, New
Mexico, for cheap fuel with which to
prosecute this development. And New
Mexico, with like mining industries at
home, will be independent, having the
necessary energy stored in its own
coal fields to cheaply develop it's other
industries.
Cheap transportation across the on
tinent of the products of the east and
west to their respective markets will
depend upon the New Mexico stores of
coal to replenish fuel for the machines
engaged in the business of ~transporta-
ton.
Labor troubles at the mines have
been amicably settled, and a full force
of men is at work upon the majority of
the mines; yet there is a dearth of coal
miners, and a few mines are still short
81 msa.
The gross production of coal for the
fiscal year ended. June 80, 1902, was
1,132, 944 tons; amount used at mines,
SO,S9S tons; net product, HOP, 046
tons; estimated value of net product
on board cars at the mines, 81, $685.
$3.50 The gross output, 1882, 944
tons. shows a decrease of S4,5S6 tons
from the product of preceding year.
This decrease was attributed to the
scarcity of miners during the past two
years and consequent restricted devel.