The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-06
COAL MARKET NOW
EXCEEDINGLY BRISK
Local Demand for Steam Fuel
Increases Ra pldIy
FORECAST OF THE FUTURE
II Is Thought That Coal Production In
This State VIII Before Many
Years Reach 10000 900 Tons.
Coal Land Values.

The coal trade In Alabama has been
exceptionally active this season, Indeed,
It Is said that the demand now Is far
greater than the supply, The open WIN
ter has had the effect very naturally, OF
making the market for domestic coal
dull, but the steam trade has Increased
In activity, In a marked degree with the
expansion OF tho birmingham districts
manufacturing interests.
Only a few years ago large coal opera
tors were looking for markets outside
OF Alabama to take a good percentage
OF their product. It could hardly be
possible, they thought, for local consump-
ton to Keep up with Increased production.
But the demand has increased rapidly
Had Ii not been for labor scarcity and
car shortage the coal output of Alabama
In 1906 would have reached 100000 tons
The state mine inspector has not quite
completed his report for the year, but
the total production hardly exceeded that
of 1905--a little more than 12,0OO,0oO tons.
During the first half of the year the out
put was at the rate of 100000. but labor
conditions and car congestion In the
fall reduced mining operations. From
present prospects fully 100000 tons will
be needed in 1907 to supply the nearby
markets, leaving about 100000 for ship
ment to the gulf, assuming, of course,
that production during the current year
will break the record and touch the
100000 mark.
At the rate the demand for Alabama
coal is increasing at home and in neigh
boring states, 1t will be only a few years
when 20, 600 ton output will be consid-
cred normal.
Extensive Development.
In spite of car shortage and scarcity
of labor, there has been extensive min
ing development in the Birmingham dis
trct recently. Especially has this been
true of the large commercial companies.
The Pratt Consolidated company, own
ing nearly 100000 acres of land, most of
1t rich in coal, has a capacity of 5000
tons a day, but with the development
work now under way, It's daily capacity
can be brought up on short notice" to
| 1900 tons. The Corona Coal and Iron
a day, but it has a capacity of 30O0 and
when the car situation improves 1t will
be prepared to put out fully 1000 tons
a day.
The Connellsvile company is opening
new mine and will soon double it's capa-
city. The Empire concern is now get
ting out $50 tons day and is pushing
its development for 1000 tons. And so
it goes.
Among the furnace operators the Ten
nessee company, which at present mines
about 1900 tons daily, is opening two
/ new mines in the Pratt division The
Sheffield Steel and Iron company
opened its Bessie mine last year and
Is steadily increasing its capacity. The
Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron
company is adding to its production in
! the Birmingham district and the Birming-
ham Iron company, formerly the Tut
wiler, owning more than 10000 acres of
| choice coal property in jefferson county
| is expanding a large sum of money on
| development and the installation of up
to-date machinery While the Southern
Steel owns and operates mines In the
| ulStiiSNs 10 blGScSl teNtippllleHI Is on It's
| coal property in Tennessee.
Coal Land Values.
All this activity in the coal fields is
having a quickening effect ON coal land
values. Several important sales have
been made within the past month or two
at prices that would have been regarded
as very high year ago, but that will
be called dirt cheap" it is predicted.
year or two hence.
Coal property was, strange to say, a
poor seller three years ago, even after
iron ore land was in eager demand at
stiff prices. 1t is at last reaching high
er price levels. in sympathy with ore
| 1t is said investors are just now APP
preciating the fact that Alabama coal
bears the same relation to iron reduc-
ton in the Birmingham district that Con-
nellsville coal bears to reduction in the
Pittsburg district.
| Much of the money going into coal
development is local capital, but il is
pointed out that northern and eastern
men with ample funds to invest are earn
est in their inquiries about mineral lands
/ around Rirp1ipC,op