New-York tribune., 1906-04-26
THE HARD COAL INDUSTRY.

A good deal Of light is thrown on conditions
in the anthracite coal field by a report recently
issued from the office of David 7. Day, chief
of the division of mining and mineral resources
in the United States Geological Survey The re-
port is made by William W. Ruley, who has
done this work for the bureau for many years
1t is clear from Mr. Ruley's summary that the
anthracite industry has enjoyed marked pros
perity since the termination of the 1902 strike
The miners have earned better wages than they
We're earning before the last rupture. and the
mine owners have made larger profits. Pro-
duction has therefore been stimulated, and the
output Of 1908 was the largest annual output
on record. In 1901-the year before the strike
the total production was 60242, $50 long TONS
The value of the product was $112, ,504,02O, the
average price a ton at the mines being about
81 05. In 1902. when work partly Sus-
pended for seven months, 369407 10 tons were
mined, with a value of $76.173,5S $50. The aver
age price a ton to about 81 50. In the last
three years, under the peace effected by Presi-
dent Roosevelts arbitration commission, the
number of tons mined has been: 1903 66613,-
454; 1904, 65,31S,490; 1905, 90, ,339 152. The
average value a ton at the mines has been
50 30, 50 30 and 81 %, respectively, and the net
value of the product for the three years has
been $152O36,44S, $13S,974,020 and $141S79,O 900.
Compared with 1901 these figures show an
average increased value of $31OOOOOO.
The miners have not only received better
wages under the award, but have worked more
days each year. In 1901 there We're only 1876
working days In 1903 there We're 20G work
ing days, in 1904 200 and in 1905 215 The
workers employed in the anthracite field have
increased from 145309 in 1901 to 165, ,4O6 in
1905. Economic conditions within the industry
do not, therefore, justify another strike. Nor
has the existing deadlock between the opera
tors and miners been caused by any friction
over the question of earnings and wages The
quarrel is about more or less eXtraneous and
academic issues. Yet the danger to the indus
try itself of continuance of these internal
dissensions-largey unnecessary so far as an
outsider can see-is plainly suggested by some
of Mr. Ruley's comparisons and statements
Though the total production of 1865 was the
largest on record, it represented no real broad
ening of the market for anthracite Had coal
on account of its high mining cost, must be sold
in nearby territory, and more than so per cent
OF the product is consumed by New England
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Four
per cent goes TO Maryland Delaware and the
Southern States, per cent to Canada and
about II per cent To points west of Buffalo
and Pittsburg Outside of New England New
York, New Jersey ana Pennsylvania the use
of anthracite is n mere luxury In its own
territory too this coal has now TO fight the
cheaper bituminous both as steam and q
domestic fuel. For household use less anthro
cite is sold now per capita than was sold IF
teen years ago. In 1891 in the territory inst
designated the per capita consumption of do
nestle sizes % tona In 1903 the nor can
ia consumption of these sizes was only n
tons Much more pea size anthracite is now
produced and sold in competition with him
mihuous for steam purposes. The output in