The Lamar register., 1907-08-28
GREAT COAL FIELDS
Total Production for 1906 Amounts to
t0,111,218 Tons.


The total production of coal In Colo
RADIO in 1906 amounted to l0.11l.2lS
short tons. having a spot value OF 49,.
1856.
With the exception of 1904, Colora.
los coal production has increased each
year since 1894. The output in 1906 ex-
ceeded any previous record in the his
DRY of the state, and compared with
1905, when the previous maximum pro-
! iuction was recorded, 1t showed an In
.rease of 1,2S4.7S9 short tons. or lac
per cent while the value increased
Sl,924.63S, or l7S per cent. The out
put of 1906 was nearly double that of
1900, and was considerably more than
three times that Of 1896. ten years
earlier.
The rapid growth of the coal mining
Industry In Colorado In 1905 and 1906
has been due in large part to the
growing iron Industries OF the state.
The gold and silver smelling compR
MES are also large consumers of coal.
and as this and the other Rocky noun
tain states are rapidly liner -asing in
population and manufacturing indus
tries. the production of coal will con-
tinue to increase.
Notwithstanding the prolonged sus-
pension of mining in the Mississippi
valley states, no strikes occurred In
Colorado during 1906. which was the
second year of this rather unusual con-
| iition. Returns to the United States
Geological Survey for 1906. shog that
II 1868 men were employed in the coal
mines of Colorado in 1906. and that they
| worked for an average of 255 days,
Is compared with IL. 020 men for an
average of 255 days in 1905. and offs. %
| men for 261 days in 1904. Tie average
| production per man in 1906 was 1894
| .ons for the year, and 3.32 tons per day.
Is compared with sol tons per man
| per year, and 314 per man per day, in
| 1905
Most of the larger mines in the state
| work on a ten-hour basis. forty-eight
mines, employing 5,222 men. having
| worked ten hours; rinc mines. employ
ing 655 men, working nine hours: and
ffty-nine Mines en- pluyins 1913 men.
| working eight hours.
The statistic relating to the use OF
| mining machines IN 1906 showed that
| 1876 machines were employed in the
mines of Colorado, aud that PFC. SCI
| tons of coal were undercur by them,
as compared 10! machines and l.24I,-
bST tons OF nacnlnf Hllneu CDdl Ill loOO.
| Seventy-ive of the machines in use in
| 1906, were of the pick or puncher type.
| hfty-one were chain machines, and ten
were long-wall.
The coal-producing areas of Colorado
may be divided into three groups. the
east arn, park. and western, the fields
Of which are separated by areas OF
great elevation and erosion. The
groups are subdivided into distinct
| fields as follows: The eastern group
into the Ration. Conon City. and South
Platte: the park group into the Mid
lie Park and Como: and the western
group into the Yampa. Grand River.
and La Plata.
The Goals embrace practically every
variety, from Ignite to anthracite.
Many of the bituminous varieties are
excellent coking Goals. the coke pro-
duced from them supporting impor-
tant iron-making industries In different
portions of the state. Nearly twenty
per cent. of the total output OF Colo.
RADIO is made into coke. and nearly all
' Of the coal is washed before ii is
charged into the ovens.