The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-04-28
HISTORY OF COAL MINING.

~ Ia LAG bS"SA1 vi NhS 80 49, N~SAt
mining in the United States is, there
fore, of comparatively recent origin.
Mr.. Edward W.Parker, who has made
a brief resume Of its, history in his
report on the Production of Coal in
1902, which is soon to be published by
the United States Geological Survey
as part of its annual volume ON Min
eral Resources, states that the earli-
est record of coal production in the
anthracite region of Pennsylvania is
for the year 1914. That is the chron-
icle of % short tons of anthracite
coal. The most complete record or
coal production which we have is that
of the anthracite region of P~ennsylva-
mia. Shipments from there began in
1920 and since that date the records
have been carefully preserved. In
the SO years from 1914 to 1902, inclu-
sive, the total production Of anthra-
cite in Pennsylvania has amounted to
approximately 1854, 100000 short
tons.
So far as is known, the earliest pro-
duction of bituminous coal was made
in the Richmond basin of Virginia.
About $4,000 short tons were pro-
duced in 1922, and the amount gradu.
ally increased until 1882, when it be-
gan to decline, and about the middle
of the last century had almost disap-
peared. About that time the devel-
opment Of he Piedmont region began
and for the next 80 or 40 years, prac-
tically all of Virginia's production
came from the northern part of the
state.
Next to those Of the anthracite
region of Pennsylvania, the most au-
thentic records we have of coal pro.
duction in the United States are of
the Cumberland Piedmont district or
Maryland and West Virginia. The
first openings were made in Mary
land, and shipments began as early
as 1912.
1t is practically certain that some
bituminous coal was produced in
Pennsylvania prior to 1910, but this
is the earliest date on record. The
total output of bituminous coal in
Pennsylvania is estimated to have
been approximately 1881, 900, 900
short tons, making the entire produc-
ton of coal in Pennsylvania approx
mately 2,8O5, 900, 900 short tons.
The next earliest statistics of coal
mining which we have are for the
state of Illinois. 1t is stated that
coal was mined on the Big Muddy
river in Jackson county in 1910, but
there is no record of the amount pro-
duced. The mine was worked by
drift along outcrops in the bluffs. A
flatboat was loaded With coal at this
place and shipped to New Orleans.
The census of 1910 states that coal
was mined in 10 counties of Illinois,
and that the years production
amounted to 16,968 tons. 1t is calcu-
lated that the total output of the
state has amounted to nearly 442, 000,-
900 short tons. 1t is interesting, in
this connection, to remember that
Father Hennepin noted in his jour
nal in 1879 the existence of a coal
mine on the Illinois river, ear the
site of the present Ottawa.
The first year in which any produc'
ton of coal was recorded in Ohio was
1888, when the output was 119, 952
tons. The census of 1910 and that OF
1860 took note of the production, but
for the years between 1910 and 1866
no data are available. Since 1860 the
records are fairly accurate. The TO
tai output of the state is estimated
to have been somewhat cver 358, ESQ,
900 tons.
The earliest producers among the
states west Of the Mississippi river
were Missouri and Iowa. The Goa
mining industry began there abour
1910.
The first coal discovered on the Pa
cifc coast was in the state Of Wash
ington in 1852. The first mine wa!
opened in Whatcom county in 1854.
California has W taken higl
rank as a coal producing state, but i
comes next in order in the history o
early production, as an output o
$500 tons was reported in 1861. Thi
increased steadily until 1874, whel
the maximum output of 215, 1853 shor
-ttons was attained. 1t began then t
decline rapidly. and since 1876 tn
industry has been rather irregular
the production depending upon man.
outside influences.
The first reported coal productio
3 for Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee
Alabama and Washington was give
in the census of 1870, but all thes
states were undoubtedly producin
y coal before that time.
The total coal production for tn
United States up to December g.
1902, is estimated at 1850, 10000
Q short tons. That means that a pyr;
mid built of this material as high a
Pixies Peak (14,108 feet) would hav
for it's base a rectangle LA mile
square. If the coal were spread OIL
e over the states of Rhode Island an
Connecticut it would cover both
$ them a foot deep.