The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-13
Nearly All Show Increase.

It is to be noted from the above that of the 12 coal-producing counties of the state, all but three increased it's produc- tion over that of the preceding year.
 Those counties showing increases, and the amount in each instance, follows: Bibb, 14S,143 tons; Etowah, 9s0 tons; Jef- ferson, e33,S57 tons; Marion, 215S tons; Shelby, S3,S76 tons; St. Clair, 71,72S tons; Tuscaloosa. 60,699 tons; Walker, 2S1, ,563 tons Winston, 11,95s tons.
 The three counties showing a decrease vious year, and the amount of the de- crease. follow: Blount, sS4 tons; Cullman. 3607 towns; DeKalk, 14,637 tons.
 It is seen that the decreases shown by Blount and Culman are comparatively immaterial. However, the above figures will show that DeKalb's decrease is about 40 per cent of the total production of the previous year. Chief Mine Inspector J. M. Gray gave as a reason for the marked decrease that the Lookout Coal company was idle practically throughout the en- tire year.
 The largest increase in proportion to the production is that of Winston county. In 1906 the county produced 1o.36s tons, while last year 1t produced 22,31e tons. This was due to the opening of many new mines in Winston. The remaining in- creases are healthy, especially that shown by Jefferson, Walker and Tuscaloosa counties.
 Jefferson Produces Over Half.
 From the above figures, it is to be seen that the production of Jefferson county is more than half that of the entire coal producing section of the state. The in- crease of Jefferson's production, as shown above, is three-fifths the entire increase of the coal-producing counties. Jeffer- sons rank is especially noticeable on &C., count of the fact that there are four counties producing more than 10000 tons Jefferson, Bibb, Walker and Tuscaloosa
 Chief Mine Inspector Gray stated yes- terday that the great increase of Jeffer- son was due chiefly to the marvellous de- velopment of the properties of the Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company. He remarked, too. on a fine increase of tHe oioSS-0HeIlieiu SIeel ana Iron COm pany and the Southern Steel, which latter company, he states, shows Increase in spite of the fact that it was compelled to close down about six weeks before the conclusion of the year.
 MT. Gray attributes the total increase to the opening of new mines, the entrance of new companies into the field, the in-. stallation of new and improved machinery and the recovery from the 1906 strike of the union coal miners.
 While the figures given above are the only official figures given out, the report, in its various details. is as yet in- complete. The amount produced by each company cannot bep ublished as yet
 MT. Gray has not completed, either, his annual report on the amount of coke pro- duction. He is also busily engaged on the report of accidents in Alabama mines last year.
 However, he considers his coal report a good one. He states that the outlook for another year of fine increases is propit- ious. He declares that the market right now is slow, but predicts an early return to the normal.
 The chief inspector will have his other reports finished within few days, he stated yesterday.