The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-19

Practically complete returns to Mr..
Edward w, Parker statiStician in
charge OF the division OF mineral re
sources, United States Geological Sur,
ycy slow that the production OF coal
in the United States during 1907 not
only lar exceeded any previous rec
ords in the history OF the industry,
but also exceeded by 4 considerable
amount all previous estimates of the
total output for that year.
The aggregate production OF an.
thracite and bituminous coal in 1907
amounted to 4S0.4s0,043 short tons,
valued at $6l4,83l $40, against 4l4,ls7.
27S short tons, valued at $5l3079,
800, in 1906 The increase in produc,
ton in 1907 over 1905 was 662o2, ,764
short tons, or loot per cent in quan.
tity, and $l0l75l,740 OF 1888 per cent
in value
OF this large production in 1907,
76,432.42l long tons. or 85604.3l2
short tons, were anthracite coal from
Pennsylvania In 1906 the production
Of Pennsylvania anthracite was g.,
645,0l0 long tons, or 7L2s2.4ll shore
tons, valued at $l3l,9lz694, so that
the increase in the production OF hard
coal in 1907 amounted to l2,7&,4li
long tons, or l4,32L90l short tons,
with an increase in value OF S3l, 900
362.
The total production Of bituminous
coal in 1907 was 394,S4s,730 short tons
valued at $45l, ,247493, an increase
over 1906, when the production
amounted to 342,874,867 short tons, Of
5l,970,863 short tons, or 1916 per
cent. The value of the bituminous
production increased from 1881 ,l62.-
rs in 1906 to $4sl ,247, ,493 in 1907, a
gain of $7O,085,37S, or 1880 per cent.
OF the 81 States IN which coal was
produced during 1907, there were
only two in which the output in 1907
was less than that OF 1906. These
we're both unimportant producing
States California and Oregon-and |
in both the decrease in production in |
1907 was due to the increased produc-
tion and use Of oil for railroad and |
manufacturing purposes Nearly all I
Of the coal mined in Oregon is sent
to San Francisco, and the increase in
the output Of California oil has mater
tally reduced the production Of coal in
Oregon.
Had it not been for the depressed
of the iron and steel trade,
which followed the financial dcpres-
sion Of October, 1907, the coal pro-
duction for that year would undoubt.
edly have exceeded a total of 500
100000 tons, and the value would
have exceeded $650,000,000.
As it was, the value Of the coal prod
uct of 1907 exceeded by 68 per cent
the value of the total mineral product
Of the United States in 1880, and was
nearly equal to the value of the entire
mineral product Of the United States
in 1897, only ten years before.
The average price for bituminous
coal at the mines in 1907 was Sl.l4,
against Sill in 1906 and $lO6 in 1906
Time average price in 1907 was high.
er than that in any other recent year
except 1903, when prices were abnor-
nally high because Of the famine pro-
luced by the great anthracite strike
n 1902. The average value of the an
hracite produced in 1907 taking into
consideration the quantity of coal
lsed at the mines in the operation of
properties, was $2,l4 per long ton,
IS against $2,05 in 1906. Excluding
he quantity Of coal used in the opera
ions OF the mines, which is designat ,