The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-04
COAL PRODUCTION FACTS.
Mineral Report Gives Some interesting
Data on Coal Fields.

| Washington, Feb 1.-Two facts con
corning the production OF coal that are of
| melancholy interest TO the general pub
| lie are brought out in Edward w. Par
kers annual report in the volume OF
Mineral Resources for 1902, which is soon
| to be issued by the United States Geolog-
ical 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 bituminous coal in the last five years.
The total number of lives lost in the
coal mines of the United States in 1902
was 1851, as compared with 1467 in 1901.
The total number of men injured was
3,643 in 1901 and 3,43S in 1862. The largest
number of lives lost per 1000 employees
in 1909 was in Tennessee. where 200 meh
were killed by the explosions in the Mel
son and Fraterville mines. The smallest
production for each life lost in 1901 was
in the Indian Territory where IT. amount
ed to only 9424 tons. The largest produc-
ton for each life lost the same year was
in Maryland, where it came to 426. 094
tons. IN 1909 the smallest production for
each life lost was 49, 4i6 tons in Tennes-
see: and the largest was3a3, 500 tons. in
Indiana.
These statistics were not collected di
ricely by the Geological Survey. but were
obtained from the reports o. state officials
or by correspondence with the mine in
spectors or other constituted authorities.
They are a significant commentary on
certain subjects of disagreement that
were well ventilated during the strike diff
-
glcns.
\ study of the tables which show the
fluctuations in the average prices for
coal that have prevailed in the several
states since 1895 will cause the heart or
the average citizen to sink. The average
price at the mine for ton OF anthra-
cite coal of 1900 pounds throughout the
United States was $l4 in 1928 81 As in
1899, SO in 1900, s1.67 in 1901. and sl.96 in
1902. This shows an increase of over 80
per cent in the price OF anthracite coal
within the last five years.
\ still larger percentage of increase
during the last five years is shown in
the price of bituminous coal throughout
the country. a short ton of hituminous
coal brought an average price at the mine
of 50 cents in 1898. Of 81 cents in 1899. Of
Sl0i in 1900. OF $L05 in 1901. and Slip in
1902 This represents an increase in price
of exactly 40 per cent in five years.
In some Of the states it is true that
the price of coal was less in 1899 than at
some other times during the period or
five years. In the Indian Territory. for
instance. the average price or coal is
given as s162 in 1901. and S1.5i in 1902: n
o. Il
in 1890 to S252 in 1901. and 8. a in 1902: in
Texas. Utah. washington and Wyoming
IL was lower in 1902 than during some
other years within the five. These excep-
tions can be explained. however. BY local
conditions in the several states, where
newly developed coal beds or the use OF
oil IS q competing fuel may have lowered
the average price Of the coal. The main
proposition holds good: that the past FIVE
years have witnessed general increase
amounting 10 % OF 80 per cent. in the av-
erage price Of both anthracite and btu
rli~ols coal The top notch for the price
OF coal In this country during the last =
years was $ II. FIVE cents more than the
average for leE That obtained ~ 81.
iSSe. 7sSs and ~. but in $50 it had fallen
10 N# From that time until 1871 and
-ea there was little variation IN the az
erage price. the year lSS when the price
rose n Sl5s. being the only noteworthy
exception.
Cleveland o. Feb. 5.-tieorge 4 Rose
late cashier ~ the Produce Exchange
bank who recently confessed 70 ern'ez-
King SIS. $40 u the hanks funds, was to-
dav sentenced II serve ten years IN the
reutteIltiaTv-