Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-06-30
Chart Showing Production Of Coal
In the United States.

A c0art b0aJ mas ulsuOrlcdi ID Weii ttS
statistical value has just been publish
ed by the United States Geological
Survey. 1t shows the production of
coal in the United States from 1914,
the date of the earliest record, to the
close of 1904 The figures are arranged
by States and by years in the order in
which the States began to produce
coal. The production of the entire
couutry during that period of 81 years
is shown to have amounted to the
enormous total of 5,577 ,210 577 short
tons. This includes the production
for 1901. which is estimated at 35l 1885,
953 sort tons. the figures for 1904 be-
ing preliminary and subject to final re
vision later In the year.
Pennsylvania has not only the largest
produ ction of any of the coal producing
States, but it WAS the first State OF
which there is any accurate record OF
production. The first coal shipped lc
the United States was from the Rich
mond basin in Virginia. In 1914, when
au output of % tons is recorded to
Pennsylvania g credit, 1t was easier to
hew down forest tree than to sink
shaft, and the cOal-minlng industry
was not needed to support thousand
manufacturing industries. The mining
of coal has developed our civilization,
has made possible our material advance
! ment. 1t has also created indirectly
our chief economic problems, for no
log fire ever developed trust.
The earliest production of bltumi-
nous coal was made in the Richmond
b .sin of Virginia in the latter part OF
the eighteenth century The first re-
corded output was in 1922. when 54 600
snort tons were produced. The pro
duction OF this region increased stead
| lily until 1882, when it began to decline.
By the middle of the last century 1t
had almost disappear ed. In 1888 be
gan the development of the Piedmont
region, which at that time belonged to
Virginia.
| The early records of Pennsylvania
/ bituminous production are sadly want
| ing. The earliest date of which we
have any record is the census for 1o4O,
although it Is practically certain that
some bitaminous coal was produced IN
Pennsylvania before that year.
| Next to the records of anthracite
mining in Pennsylvania and of btu.
minous mining in the Richmond basin,
i'll Virginia, the earliest statistics OF
coal mining which we have are for L.
linois. The first record found for this
State is that coal was mined in Jack
son County in 1910.
Although some coal was undouhted
ly produced in Ohio prior to 1888, that
is the first year in which any product
ion was recorded. The output for that
year was 119, ,952 tons.
Among the States west of the Mis-
sissippi River the earliest production
reported is in Missouri and Iowa. BY
the census of 1910 Missouri is credited
with an output of 997l short tons ant
Iowa with $50 short tons. 1t is prob
able that veryslittle coal was mined il
} either of these States before that tim
and it may be considered that the IN
dustry began at that date.
The first coal discovered on the Pacl
fic coast was found in the State o
Washington in 1852. The first min
was opened in Whatcom County il
1854.
, Although California has never take
} high rank as coal-producing State
J it comes next in order in the history 0
+ early production, an output of 662
) tons being reported in 1861. The ma1
r imum output of the State = 20
Q short tons-was attained in 1874.
The chart which sets forth in tabu
lated form many of these interestln
facts regarding the production of cof
was compiled under the supervlslo
J, of DIR. David 7. Day, chief of the div
E, sion of mining and mineral resources
8 by Mr.. Edward W. Parker, statisticar
o 1t may be obtained, free of charge,
}. application to the Director of tt
J. United States Geological SURVEY
8 Washington, ID. G.