Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-08-17

1 ANaNhNt* AMY WIS q iAi nc tAt t0NN Ia
production. and a number of new ov.
en- plants We're constructed, but these
gains were in response to the strong
current demand. and not necessarily
Indicative of the position the state Is
to occupy In the future. The events OF
greatest significance that have mark.
ed the year may be referred to, briefly,
as follows:
Supply Of coking Coal.
The West Virginia eoking Goals
were thoroughly tried out in by-pro.
duct plants. and have been given a
well earned position as standards for
that practice. Assuming that the bee
hive oven will ultimately be suppressed
ed by more economical types, II is
gratifying to know that cur Goals will
fully respond to the most exacting re-
quirements OF advanced coking meth.
DDS.
In the report of operations at the
st. Louis testing plant by II. w. Par
ker, ]. A. Holmes and Marlus
Campbell. a map was included which
shows with great accuracy every coal
field in the United States. Very few
publications by the Geological survey
will receive greater attention from
the iron and steel makers and coal OPP
orators than this map. When the eea'
fields there outlined are sub-diyided
into coking and n~on-coklng groups Il
will be found that the areas capable
of supplying high.grade metallnrgiea
coke are few in number, and compare
lively small in acreage.
In the year 1906 there were 81.
counties in the United States that Pre-
duced msre than 100, 900 tons OF coal
each, but there were only 81 countie
that produced more than 1905 0 ton
of coke each. Seven counties In Penn
sylvania, with seven In West Virginia
and three In Alabama, furnished S
per cent. of the entire coke output Q
the United States for the year 1905.
Statisticans throughout the worl
gathering data for estimates upon tn
extent and tonnage of the unworKei
iron-ore deposits available for tn
future. Preliminary estimates hay,
been made for the most importan
beds in this country, and u. w. Park
er. statistican for the United State
Geological survey, has undertaken th'
vital work of Investigating the fue
supplies that must be reserved for tn,
reduction of the American ores.
Reserve Fuel For Iron Making.
Within the next two years prac.i
cally all of the ~undeveloped cokini
coal areas will be opened by railway
that are now in process of construc
ton, but where properties are so 10
Gated that they can be operated Ii
conjunction with iron and stee
plants, it is probable that a numbe
will be equipped for that purpose ex
clusively, and viii o enter the gen
eral trade. The known ores In tn,
Mesabi district win eventually require
a fuel supply that will be e~quivalen
to one coking seam with a thickness
Of five feet, underlying a territory tina
shall not be less than 300.0 900 acres ii
extent. All the other ore fields viii
require proportionate reservations
The United States Steel corporation
has already secured coal lands in THU
state to the extent of 10000 acres
and other iron interests are preparing
TO take similar action in West vir
ginia, Virginia and Kentucky, where
realty prices have not as yet approach
ed the Pennsylvania levels.
West Virginia has cooking. gas
steam and domestic Goals Of the very
highest grades, a good geographical
location. and excellent transporta' ion
facilities. The state has an open
waterway to Cincinnati, Louisville, st.
Louis and other cities in the Missis.