The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-02
A Short History Of Coal Mining in
the United States.

E. In early colonial days. when every
hilltop was covered with forests. fuel
was plentiful enough above ground,
and there was no need to search for it
in the bowels of the earth. Coal
mining in the United States is, there
fore, of comparatively recent origin.
Nh. Edward W. Parker, who has
made a brief resume of it's history in
his report on the product of coal in
1902, which is soon to be Published by
the United States Geological Survey
as part Of it's annual volume on
Mineral Resources" states that the
earliest record of coal production in
the anthracite region of Pennsylvania
is for the year 1914. That Is the
chronicle of twenty-five short tons
of anthracite coal.
The most complete record of coal
production which we have is that of
the anthracite region Of Pennsylvania.
Shipments from there began in 1920,
and since that date the records have
been carefully preserved. In the
eighty-nine years from 1914 to 1902,
inclusive, the total production of an
thracite in Pennsylvania has amounted
approximately l, ,554, 200, 600 short tons.
So far as is known, the earliest pro-
duction Of bituminous coal was made in
the Richmond basin of Virginia.
About 81, 600 short tons were produced
in 1922 and the amount gradually in
creased until 1882, when it began to
decline, and about the middle Of the
last century had almost disappeared.
About that time the development of
the Piedmont region began, and for
the next thirty or forty years practi-
calIy all of Virginia's production came
from the northern part Of the State.
Next to those Of the anthracite region
of Pennsylvania, the most authentic
records we have of coal production in
the United States are of the Cumber-
nd-Pjedmont district of Maryland
and West Virginia. The first openings
were made in Maryland and shipments
began as early as, 1872.
It is practically certain that some
Pennsylvania prior to 1910, but this is
the earliest date on record. The to-
tai output of bituminous coal in
Pennsylvania is estimated to have
been approximately 1881, 600, 600
short tons, making the entire produc-
ton of coal in Pennsylvania approx
mateIy 2, 8e5, 0OO,00 short tons.
The next earliest statistics Of coal
mining which We have are for the
State of Illinois. It is stated that
coal was mined on the Big Muddy river
in Jackson county in 1910, but there
is no record Of the amount produced.
The mine was worked by drift along
outcrops in the bluffs. a hatboat was
loaded with coal at this place and
shipped to New Orleans. The census
of 1910 states that coal Was mined IN
nineteen counties of Illinois, and that
the years production amounted to
16, 969 tons. It is calculated that the
total output of the Sta has amount
ed to enarly 442, 600, ,0C0 short tons. 1t
is interesting in this connection to re-
member that Father Hennepin noted in
his journal in 1879 the existence OF
a coal mine on the Illinois river, near
the site of the present Ottawa.
The first year in which any produc-
tion of coal was recorded in Chic was
1893, when the output was 1l9, 952
tons. The census Of 1910, and that of
1850, took note of the production,
but for the years between 1910 and 1860
no data are available. Since 1860 the
records are fairly accurate. The total
output of the State is estimated to
have been somewhat over 1853, 25O, 600
tons.
The earliest producers among the
States west of the Mississippi river
where Missouri and Iowa. The coal
mining industry began there about
1910.
The first coal discovered on the
Pacific coast was in the State OF Wash
ington, in 1852. The first mine vas
opened in Wbatcom county in 1854.
California has never taken high
rank as coal producing State, but 1t
comes next in order in the history OF
early production, as an output OF {, 62o
tons was reported in 1861. This In
creased steadily until 1874, when the
maximum output Of 215, 253 short tons
was attained. It began then TO decline
RAPIDLY. and since 1876 the industry
has been rather irregular, the produc-
tion depending upon many outside IN
huences.
The first reported coal production
for Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Alabama and Washington was given IN
the census of 1870, but all these States
were undoubtedly producing coal be-
fore that time.
The total coal production for the
United States up to December 81,
1902, is estimated at 1850, 600, Oc0 short
tons. That means that pyramid built
of this material as high as Pixies Peak
IA, 10S feet) would have for its base
rectangle l. IA miles square. Ii the
coal we're spread out over the States OF
Rhode Island and Connecticut 1T would
cover both of them foot deep.