The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-29
SOUTHERN PROGRESS ANTHRACITE STRIKES EFFECT
 ON THIS SECTION. Great Impetus Given to the Btu minous Coal Trade-The View
 of F. D. Saward. the Well
 Known Expert.

Baltimore, Nov. 1.--(Spscial.) )--Never before was the bituminous coal trade of this country, in which the South is so deeply interested, given such an impetus as during the strike in the anthracite fields. In the view of F. D. saward, the well-known Coal expert. this activity seems likely to continue. Writing In this weeks issue of The Manufacturers Rec ord, he says:
 Tt is not unsafe to say that when the returns are in for the year 1So2, the total
 will show production of bituminous coal four times as great as that of anthra- cite. and when one considers that it Is not so many years ago-in the life of an industry or of country-that they were on an equal footing so far as tonnage is concerned, this statement must have a reat bearing upon the situation. The trade keeps up to the highest pitch of activity, and the cry of short car supply is heard throughout the country, the one significant fact being that the rail- road comanies are and have been large buyers. They are taking the maximum tonnage allowed by their contracts, and some have been buying in the open mar ket. thus preparing for the winter and possibly acting on their knowledge of an insufficient car supply"
 Mir. saward points to the very heavy tonnage of rails. plates and shapes book ed for next year and to the evidence that the railroads will be as busy in rehabili- tating their lines in 1908 as they have been this year. together with the exten- sions under way, as explanation of the great development of coal lands through out the western part of Pennsylvania in the Virginias and in other Southern States. He adds:
 The industry of coal mining and dis. tribution has taken on somewhat of the proportions of statesmanship, requiring broad views, large ideas and foresighted vision, and the change as against few years ago is most remarkable. Business Is conducted on so colossal c scale that small and narrow visioned men are not In the reckoning when 1t is to be directed under the impulses of the new econmio conditions that have developed with such marvellous rapidity, and that are push- ing men forward faster than they desire.
 The production of coal in the world Is now in the hands of the United States, Great Britain and Germany. and during the last few years we have distanced the last two countries and shall maintain our position in spite of the fact that there was considerable time lost in the anthra- cite mines this year. for in some of the bituminous districts the production has increased 10 per cent, while in others 1 has shown even a larger increase
 ''We are learning not only to be saw ing In the amount of coal Actually bought for the purpose of burning. but we are learning to burn coal with greater econ- omy. and bituminous coal has shown its value in many places during the past year It is stated that in New England establishments the econ. af f,,A hos hnA within the past twenty years, and that is largely owing to the change which has taken place, for the statistics for the port of Boston show that twice as much bituminous is now received there annu- ally as anthracite, whereas a few years ago they were on an even footing.
 "It is the growth of the mining ma chine used in bituminous mines in this country which has enabled the bituTnin ous production to increase as 1t has, so that in the ten years from 1891 to 1901 the mined product increased from G. cod, GOO tons to nearly 60. 0O0. 900 tons. and as the use of these machines is greatest and the progress has been greatest in the central group of States. as well as in West Virginia. 1t is clearly evident that from those places Is the greatest output of coal likely to come, and at a rate which will afford the opportunity for dis posing of the product of the mine on [ fair basis of cost: for in West Virginia. where the machine mined coal was 205.- 900 tons in 1891. it was increased to 4,8O0, poo tons in 1901. and 1t is no doubt this which put that State in third place last year and as Illinois was only 5000 00c tons ahead, 1t is not unlikely that when this years returns aro made up, the State will occupy second place In coal production in this country, for | with such developments going on in the Fairmont and in the Norfolk and Vest | ern districts such an increase Is easily | made up.
 Taken all in all. the prospects for the bituminous coal trade of this country are the brightest. With the industrial con- 1ition as 1t Is and as 1t is likely to be and the source of fuel supplies of indus tries being bituminous coal the situation cannot be otherwise than as stated.