The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-26
WHAT MINES HAVE DONE
Strikes Have Not Inter.
fered With Trade.

ton of coal which IS published by the
United States Geological Survey. Ike
year Of 1905 was one Of record-break
ing activity"
The anthracite trade has been par
ticularly good. The market for pre-
pared sizes for domestic use took all
the coal that could be produced. Dur.
ing the spring and summer the small
sizes, which are used in competition
with bitumlnous coal, for steam pur-
poses, were not in great demand, but
with the increased activity of the later
months the demand for anthracite
coal in small sizes naturally increased,
especially as the was a marked scare
ity OF bitumlnous coal Statistics
show that in the production of anthra-
cite coal for the year there was an in
trease OF six and on shalt per cent.
over the production OF 1904, and about
three and one-third per cent. over the
output OF 1908.
While the production Of bituminous
coal has, in most states exceeded the
production Of previous years, the oper-
atlons Of the mines have been serious
ly hampcred by a shortage OF cars.
notwithstanding the interruption 10
business caused by a strike OF the
mine workers aud the fact that the op-
orators Of Alabama and Tennessee
have been somewhat inconyienced by
lack of cars, the production of coal
Throughout the state OF Alabama
showed pronounced increase Over
that OF the preceding year. Owing TO
the strike large portion Of Alabama's
export coal trade was cut on. On the
other hand the manufacturers and
other domestic coal consumers used
much more coal than before, and
prices reached considerably higher
level than in former years.
The conditions IN Alabama natural
ly stimulated to an appreelable degree
the production in the adjoining state
OF Tennessee and also that OF eastern
Kentueey.
Notwithstanding the general com.
plant as TO lack Of cars, the railroads
moved more coal In West Virginia,
and also Maryland and Pennsylvania
than ever before This condition nat
urally meas that the railroads them
selves consumed much more coal than
usual An extraordinary demand for
coal was also created by the wide
spread activity in the steel and cement
industries, which. together with the
railroads, took large part Of the out
put OF the northern Appalachian reg
ion
Two influences appear TO have ser
i5usly affected The coal mining indus
try IN Ohio First. II Is evident that
large number Of operations have re-
Gently been begun by men who are
comparatively new TO the business and
are ignorant OF many OF the contingent
expenses ut mining. but who are am
lbitious for tonnage without due re-
gard to rOturns This caused gen
eral depre- sion in prices throughout
the state, particularly during the sum
mer months, which resulted IN ins2s
uiar operations and Increased cost.
The second factor which has in
nuenced the Ohio trade has been The
enormous development Of the industry
in West Virginia, where mineg not re-
sricted by union wages and rules
have been able 10 bring 10 Ohio, and
to other markets for Ohio mines, a
superior grade OF coal at prices which
seriously AFFECT the home product
Ia Illinois the special feature Of the
year was the passage by the legisla-
tur4 Of what is known q the Shot
Firers' blli rns passah shir bill
which provides that the coal shall be
shot down by men especially employ
ed for the purpose rather than By ihe
miners themselves. caused number
of complications and resulted IN a
shutdown Of eight days throughout
the state This was the first general
shutdown Of the coal mines Of Hi
nois since 1897 In both Illinois and
Indiana the coal trade during tho sum
mer months was in unsatisfactory con.
ditloa. and prices were accordiugiy
depressed
IN ihe southwest inclaaing Arkan.
zss and Indian Territory the year on
tho whole was Disappointing % pro-
dueers During thc laier part of the
year. however thorq was a noteworthy
ltcseaso IA the demand for coal, and
the production during November end
uecember was limited only BY the car
Sapply The decline "a the prodaction
of Texas fuel Oh and fhe conseqasoi
laResso IN me price q that comiaod.
ITS resulted ID Az increased defaena