The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-03-24
COST OF COAL PRODUCTION.

Interesting Statistics Regarding Loss
Of Life, Mining Expenses, Etc.,
for the Year 1902.
Two facts concerning the production
of coal that are of melancholy interest
to the general public are brought out in
Mr.. Edward w. Parker's annual report
in the volume of mineral resources for
1902, which is soon to be issued by the
United States geological survey. The
first is the loss of life incident to the
industry Of coal mining. The second is
the steady and considerable increase in
the price Of both anthracite and bitu-
minous coal in the last five years.
The total number of lives lost in the
coal mines of the United States in 1904
was 1851, as compared with ,467 in
1901. The total number Of men injured
was 3.e43 in 1901, and 3.43s in 1902. The
largest number of lives lost per 1000
employees in 1902 was in Tennessee,
where 200 men were killed by the ex-
plosions in the Nelson and Fraterville
mines. The smallest production for
each life lost in 1901 was in the Indian
territory, where it amounted to only
49,424 tons The largest production for
each life lost the same year was in
Maryland, where it came to 426 ,094 tons.
In 1902 the smallest production for each
life lost was 19,446 tons, in Tennessee;
and the largest was 393,593 tons, in In
diana.
These statistics were not collected di-
rectly by the geological survey, but were
obtained from the reports of state Of
licials or by correspondence with the
mine inspectors or other constituted au-
thorities. They are significant COM
mentary on certain subjects of disa-
greement that were we'll ventilated dur.
ing the strike difficulties Of 1902 in the
anthracite coal regions.
A study of the tables which show
the fluctuations in the average prices
for coal that have prevailed in the sew.
eral states since 1898 will cause the
heart OF the average citizen to sink
The average price at the mine for a
ton of anthracite coal of 1000 pounds
throughout the United States was $1.41
in 1898. $1.46 in 1899, $1.49 in 1900, 81. 81
in 1901 and $1.96 in 1902. This shows
an increase of over 80 per cent. in the
price Of anthracite coal within the last
five years.
A still larger percentage Of increase
during the last five years is shown in
the price of bituminous coal through.
out the country. A short ton Of btu.
minous coal brought an average price
at the mine of 80 cents in 1893, or 81
cents in 1899, of $1.O4 in 1900, Of 81 OF
in 1891 and $112 in 1902. This repre-.
'sents an increase in price OF exactly A
per cent. in five years.
In some of the states it is true thai
the price of coal was less in 1902 thar
ut some other times during the perioG
of five years. In the Indian territory
for instance, the average price of Goa
is given as $1.62 in 1901. and $1.51 II
from 1914 in 1900 to $2.52 in 1901, ant
$2.44 in 1902; in Texas, Utah, Wash
ington and Wyoming it was lower IL
1902 than during some other years with.
! in the five. Misconceptions can be ex.
planned, however, by local conditions II
the several states, where newly devel
oped coal beds or the use of oil as ,
competing fuel may have lowered tn,
average price OF the coal. The maiI
proposition holds good: That the pas
i've years have witnessed a general in
crease, amounting to 80 or 40 per cent.
in the average price Of both anthracit,
and bituminous coal. The top notch fol
the price of coal in this country durin,
the last % years was $201, five cent,
more than the average for 1902. Tha
obtained in 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1887
but in 1889 1t had fallen to $1.44. From
that time until 1901 and 1902 there wa
little variation in the average price, tn
year 1893, when the price rose to 1.5s
being the only noteworthy exception.
StrAwb0arA Investigations.
The strawboard investigations con
Quoted by the United States geological
survey show that the relation Of straw