Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-02
co AL STATISTICS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DURING
THE PAST YEAR.

Statistics Of the coal and coke production
Of the United States have been prepared by
Mr.. e. w. Parker of the United States geo.
logical survey for publication In the Mineral
Resources of the United States gotten out
annually by DR.. David T. Day OF the sur.
vey. The figures show an interesting in.
crease.
Both in quantity and value the production.
of coal in 1905 surpassed all previous rec
ords in the history of the United States
The output amounted to 392.9l9.3i1 short
tons. which had value at the mines Of
$476, 1856 963 Compared with 1904, when tho
production amounted to 351, s16.39s short
tons, valued at s444 .371 021 the output In
1903 exhibits an increase OF Al. 1924 short
tons. or III per cent in quantity, and OF
S323S3,942. or 7.3 per cent in value. Prior to
1903 the maximum output of coal was OBJ
tained In 1903, when the production amount
ed TO 3J1 .:so6. 416 short tons. valued at $685.
12f3SI compared with which the record
for 1906 shows ar increase ~ production OF
35,562.12J short tons, and of x26.S7, AIS The
high value recorded in the statistics for 1903
was due to the somewhat abnormal imitation
of prices caused by the shortages OF fuel
supplies. which resulted from the strike in
the anthracite region of Pennsylvania In
the preceding year. The lower values in
1904 compared with 1903 were simply q
return to normal conditions, but the decline
in 1905 was result of a production i'm ex-
cess of market requirements. unusually
large as they We're
Due to Iron Industry.
The larger part of the Increased produce
ton in 1905 was due to the great activity in
the. iron industry. as is shown by the fact
that the amount of coal made into coke
increased from 31.2Is.537 short tons TO A.
4123cS short tons. and that the larger in
creases were in the states that produce
aul md hos ,ipl fffa
to the iron furnaces.
The scenes of the principal cons Oldations
Of corporations engaged in the coal-nlling
Industry in 1893 were in Illinois and lnui-
ana, although a. number OF important mers-
ings were reported also from Ohio and
West Virginia.
The production of coke in the United
States In 1908 surpassed all previous records
in the history Of coke making in this coun-
try. Including the production OF coke from
by-product ovens, which in 1893 amounted
to 3, 462, 34S short TONS the total output OF
coke in the United States last year amount
ed to 81, 2231. 129 short tons against % t6l loo
short tons in 1904, and 2S1 short tons
In 1903. The output of 1905 is an increase OF
sc % per cent over that of 1904.
The value increased in even greater pro-
portion, from SAG l a. 941 in 1904 to 81 416 196
In 1905 a gain of 6.331 .255, or 81 per cent.
Prior to 1905 the maximum production OF
coke was made I'm 1902. when the output
amounted to D. 40l. 40 short tons valued at
$63, 339. 1877, compared with which the pro-
duction last year shows an increase OF
g. so 800 short tons 26S per cent in guam
tity. and Of 50, 137,029. or 14.4 per cent In
value.
The great activity In the coke making in
dustry during 1908 was due to the eXtraor-
binary demand created by the unprecedent-
ed production of iron and steel. Except for
a short time during the summer months
when furnaces were shut down for repairs.
the demand for coke'was in excess OF the
supply throughout the year.
Crushed Coke.
product coke in blast furnaces and foun-
dries. the employment of crushed and sized
coke for domestic and Industrial purposes as
a substitute for anthracite and bituminous
coal has increased notably. The plant at
Camden, n. j., has restricted its output for
foundry purposes and now relies mainly
upon the domestic trade In Camden, Phila-
delphia and vicinity, which has been such
as to Justify an Increase In oven capacity
Ohio. has added to its equipment for crush
of its output than ever before now goes to
this field. Operators of the plant at Glass
port, Pa have also found that the demand
for domestic coke was sufficient TO justify
the installation of improved crushing equip
ment At Everett, Mass, practically the
pioneer In the production of coke for do
mestic consumption, the coke product Is
now easily and regularly disposed of. being
divided about equally between domestic
industrial uses and fuel for locomotives in
suburban traffic.