Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-14
WHERE JAPAN GETS ITS COAL
Mines Are on the Island of Jezo-De
pOsits Are Extensive.

Mines Are on the Island of Jezo-De
DOsits Are Extensive.
The island of JeZo, one of the most
northern of the japanese empire, is
one of the main sources of the coal
supply of the mikado's battleships.
The mines of Jezo are not only among
the largest in the orient, but produce
very fine quality of coal for vessel
fuel. They are in several great groups,
although only a part of the territory
of coal-bearing deposits has been ex-
amined iy biologists and mineral ex-
ports. They have estimated that the
groups owned by one company alone
| contain fully 250,000,000 tons of coal.
near enough to the surface to be easily
secured. The Sarachi group is the
largest at present operated and com.
prises an area of $500 acres, upon
which have been found ten veins,
ranging from three feet to seven feet
in thickness. but the greatest produc-
ers are the mines of the Yubari group.
representing about 1880 acres for
here have been found veins no less
than twenty-five feet in thickness.
Analyses of the coal show it to be a
high grade bituminous. excellent for
not only stean.ing, but gas and coke
making, 50 lie company mas built a
I large number OF coke ovens in con-
nection with the pits. The third group,
known as the Purowai mines is CON
siderably smaller, comprising only
about 727 acres, while the fourth coy
ers about 800 acres.
An interesting fact in connection
with this big industry is that about
all the apparatus used was manufac-
tured in the United States, says the
Pittsburg Dispatch. The locomotives
which are used to draw the coal carts
through the shafts were made in Pitts
burg and are operated by compressed
air The tramway connecting the
mines with the railway which runs TO
the seacoast is also operated by steam
locomotives made in Pittsburg NJ
though nearly 10000 are employed in
getting out the coal, very large por-
ton of it is obtained by mechanical
cutters, also worked by compressed
air while all the elevating machinery
was designed and constructed in this
country purposely for the industry
The galleries and shafts are lighted
by electricity. and. in fact, everything
connected with the operationsis as up
/ to date as at any mine of this coun-
try. The railroads connecting the min
ing district with the seacoast are also
largely built and equipped with Ameri-
can material. The company owns 212
mines in all, one line extending from
0taru and the other from Morroran.
The government has built system In
the interior with which both of the
coal railroads form connection and of
this fact 'fhe Russians are probably
well aware. Consequently, unless they
are well guarded the island could be
easily invaded and the mines seized,
as they are but a comparatively short
distance from the seacoast.
The Yubari group, which is the prin-
cipal producer. is less than 100 miles
from either of the shipping ports, and
the Sarachi group, which is the far
thest from the coast. is only III miles.
The mines of Jezo have only been
operated extensively for about ten
years but are now producing over l.
100000 tons annually, a large proper
ton of which is taken by the govern
ment One company alone mines over
100000 tons yearly. This is the Hok-
kaidO Tanko Tetsudo Kaisha. one of
the weathiest corporations ia the
world. 1t not only owns coal mines,
but railroads. steamship lines, besides
warehouses. coal piers, etc. Its cnpi-
tai is no less than 20O00,000 yen.
equal to S10000,O 900 in American
money, and it has been so prosperous
that it has paid actual dividends to
its shareholders ranging from 20 to
80 per cent partly through the con-
tracts which ii has to supply the in
nerial government with fuel