Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-10
PRODUCTION OF COKE
EXCEEDED THAT OF ANY YEAR
IN OUR HISTORY.
It Amounted Last Year to q, 4O1 ,7SO
Short neutrality-suspicious. FaciH-
ties Were insufficient.

The production of coke in the United
States in 1902. according to the report now
in press prepared by Mr.. E. W. Parker
for the geological survey, exceeded that OF
any year in our history. The product.
which included the output from retort or
by-product ovens, amounted last year to
% 4O1, 73O short tons, as compared with
q 795 1888 short tons in 1901. and with TO-
53Y, 34S tons in 1900. The increase in 1907
over 1901 amounted to 3,605, SAT short tons,
or 1915 per cent, and this increase would
have been much larger had the transporta-
ton facilities been commensurate with the
demand for coke and with the productive
capacity of the ovens.
Highest Price.
The unprecedented production OF coke IN
1902 was accompanied by an increase OK
value which was even more worthy OF
note The average price per ton at the
ovens was the highest recorded in a period
Of twenty-three years. and the total value
reached the high figure Of $63, 1888. l67, an
increase over the preceding year Oh s!1,,
S93 244 or 425 per cent. The value of the
coal used in the manufacture OF coke IN
1902 exceeded that of 1901 by S,922,oo5'
from which It aDpsars that the e value OF tns
above tho innraasad valus of the coal used
-, its production. In 1901 the highest price
obtained for Connsllsville furnace coke was
s425 which was paid in March and April
Of that year. In Septem Der and October of
1902, while contract coke was nominaiiy
quoted at s. per ton, consumers were pay
ing from SO to $12 per ton for prompt de-
livery, and as mucn as 40 per loA was ie-
During 1902 there were 81. 069 coke ovens
in existence in the United States, as com
pared with 63,951 ovens in 1901. VI these
duced an average of 1884 tons per oven.
The total number in 1902 included l665 by
product recovery ovens, which proouceo
/. 4O3. 5SS tons of coke, an average OF 9Th
tons Of coke per oven.
Pennsylvania Leads.
In the order of production Pennsylvania
ranked first, with 16, 497 $40 short tons. an
increase over 1901 of PA, 1893 tons; Ala
bama came second. with 1852 46 short
tons. an increase Of 400. 1886 tons; West Vir-
GINA. third, with 2.516,5O5 short tons, an
Increase Of 232, sos short tons; Virginia
fourth with 1.124572 short tons, an in
crease of 217. 442 short tons; Colorado hfth.
with COZ, 1893 short TONS an increase OF
1872 $50 tons-the percentages Of increase
for these states being Pennsylvania. 1892;
Alabama, 1877; West Virginia. 1O.l9 Vir-
ginia, 2397; Colorado. 49.47.
The quantity of coal used In 1902 to pro-
duce 25. 4O1, 100 short tons of coke was 80.
6O4 COT short tons, compared with "a.
207 965 short tons used to produce q. 795 $50
tons of coke in 1901. an increase Of 1886
O42 short tons OF coal IN 19O2 over lSOi. Inc
vaJue of the coal consumed increased from
sd, SIS, 631 to 500 3O1 1914. In 1901 the value
of the coal used in making a ton of coke
was $144. and the average price per ton
for the coke, produced was $2O4, differ
ence of go cents on each ton. In 1902 the
value of the coal used in making ton OF
coke was s1.54. and the average price per
ton of coke was $249, a difference Of 90
cents on each ton Of coke.
The quantity Of coke imported into the
United States in 1902 amounted to lao, ass
short tons. valued at S423,775. as compared
with 72.727 short tons, valued at $2e6.075,
in 1901. The exports Of coke in 1902 amount
ed to 439. $50 short tons valued at 81. 1S5, 1873
as compared with 43O. 45O short tons, val
ued at 81, 561 1893 in 100. L.