The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-11-14
INolAN TERRITORY.
Is Destined to Become Great cesi Pro
ducing Country.

Washington, D. C., Nov i4-rhat
tho indian territory is destined to
become one Of the greatest coal pro
ducing countries Of the southwest is
testified to by the lates; annual re-
port of The Indian territory mine in
spector 30 Secretary Hi chcocl1
Mr.. Cameron saws the output fr
the last year would have reached the
four million mark had it not been
for the general depression in south
wcst business circles notably in the
cotton market A short cotton crop
causing a general business depression
which naturally reduced the demand
for coal TOR steam purposes. Another
reason assigned for this lack of de-
mand in the last half of the year is
found in The fact that dealers and con
sumers anticipating the probability
OF an AVERAGE and perhaps severe
winter and expecting an advance in
prices laid in heavy stock Of coal
'rhe indian territory inspector also
assigned the violent weather of the
last few months IF tho past fiscal year
for the general slump in production.
Many mines. we're flooded. he says 90
an extent requiring months Of pump
ing TO reduce. and causing many thou-
sands of dollars CT expense TO again
put the mlpos in working order AS
this occurred at time when the mar
Set was recovering and orders were
coming in more freely there is nc
doubt that a serious curtailment was
caused thereby notwithstanding all
of these drawbacks Of the past fiscal
: year. the total increase exceeded that
OF 1903 Dy over $4,000 tons The out
put of the first half OF the year wa'
/ .S73 ,4a2 tous, while the second hal
showed decrease of 424752 tons fo'
rea sons already recited.
Continuing the inspector said "rh'
work Of the mine inspector increases
each year, there now being l16 mine
in active operation besides a larg
number of small mines being worlei
on permits, all of which it would b.
impossible for the inspector to visi
even were it his duty to dc go. AS tn
, advent Of reilroads is constantly e'
tending and opening fields thar coui
not heretofore be prohtably worke
the area covered by the operations
constantly widening. rendering
more arduous and difficult to cove
teh grounl. There are now ll6 mine
&c and aboat 29S openings in number
In regard to the operators" j
said. Il take pleasure in saying tia
it is the expressed intention and d
= sire of the operators generally 20 cor
Al ply with the law and to adept q
% necessary measures for the protecfit
Ie of the miners and while ! have h1
Iat times occasion TO critidse and ca
attention TO defects this has been &c
/ orally caused by the failure Of son
/ employee to carry ont the orders 81
= en- him and such defects have bee
I speedily remodied when The attentic
1 of the officials has been called thor
to. II is with great pleasure that
z am able to say that constant efor
to improve the ventilation Of mines
he territory has resulted in a niari'
u diminution of accidents resulting fro
the ignition OF gas, For the year en-
ing June 30, 1904, there have bee
only nine accidents from this cans
two Of which proved fatal. ! shall n
relnquish my efforts to maintain.
far as l can. the standard Of good We
tilation which these hgures prove
exist in the mines Of this territory" "