New-York tribune., 1905-04-10
A MILLION TONS 4 DAY

Ihe astonishing rate at which the nroduc+,oD
or coal in the United States has Increased tn
the last half century is discussed in ..Tbe
manufacturers Record" by Mr.. Frederic e
Sawaru. Statistieians say that the population
OF this country has doubled about once in thirty
or thirty-three years since Independence was
achieved. The development Of coal mining here
mas gone on much more rapidly The output of
american coal nearly doubled during each Of
the four decades beginning with the year 1860.
At amounted to about 270,OO0 900 tons in 1900
and 345OOO,O0O tons last year. At the present
time, Mr.. Saward believes, it must average
100000 tons day. Another way of present
Ing the facts is to say that the yield was less
than one ton C995) for each inhabitant in 1870.
put with each succeeding decade rose to 1913.
ZOO and 1854. The production now can
scarcely be less than four tons per capita.
Inasmuch the United States does not vet
sell any considerable quantity of coal abroad.
the question arises how the cOnsumDtion at
home is to be accounted for. In the first DIace
TINS country has many more miles Of railway
track In proportion to its population than anv
other. If its passenger and freight traffic COM
bined are cOrrespOndngly excessive, its loco
motives would require two or three times as
much coal per capita as those Of Europe, taken
as whole. Again. America makes more Mig
iron than either Of her chief competitors. The
]
1903, and again in 1904. involved the burning
teither in the form Of anthracite or cOke) OF
about 25,000,000 tons of coal each year In
American households and hotels the use Of
fuel for heating and cooking may be more ex-
travagant than it is i'm Europe but not enough
larger to signify greatly The chief factor
therefore in the increased demand for coal
here in the last thirty forty years is the gen
eral development of manufa ctures Of all kinds
/ NfoAn
tries, but growing requirements have been met
mainly by steam power. Indeed, the rapidity
with which the need of coal for these purposes
has asserted itself is a gratifying indication of
recent national prosperity.
The consumption of coal in the United States
is the more remarkable, perhaps, because Amer
lea contributes nearly or quite One-haIf to the
worlds supply Of petroleum The oil of the
East and North yields such a high percentage
of kerosene, naphtha and other valuable distil-
lates that it does not pay TO use the crude prod
uct for fuel, and the quantity Of residuum left
after refining is comparatively small. Besides,
coal is so abundant and cheap in this part Of
the country that it affords more economical
fuel than oil. In the Southwest and on the Pa
cifc Coast the situation is different California
alone produced 25,OOO,OOO barrels in 1904. and
will doubtless report a material increase this
/ year. Texas will do nearly We'll apparent
/ ly, and appreclable reinfcrcements will come
| from Louisiana and Kansas. The combined
output of those four States should reach 10000
/ coo or SOOO0OOO barrels. Refining, when at
| tempted there, will give only limited amount
Of Illuminating oil and gasOlene. The volume
/ Of crude petroleum will be reduced by exporta-
/ ton, to Europe from Texas and to South
America from California, TO an even greater
extent There could not we'll be left here for
domestic consumption, therefore, more than
40o0o0o0 or 6O.OQ0,Oo0 barrels That amount