The San Francisco call., 1908-07-26
WASHINGTON COAL
MINING INCREASES
Output of State Last Year Was
Larger and Price Higher
Than in 1906

WASHINGTON, July 25.-Although
good part of the market (or Washing
ton coal in California has been lost
through the increased production of
fuel oil in that state, Washington
shared in the general increase in the
production of coal in 1907. The total
output for the year was 3,6S0,532 short
tons. having a spot value of $7,679, ,S01,
an increase of 404.34S short tons, or
1884 per cent in quantity and of ST.
771,367, or 1898 per cent in value, COM
pared with 1906. The average price
per ton advanced from $3.50 in 1906 to
$2.09 in 1907.
During the first 10 months of the
year the coal mining industry of the
state was in highly satisfactory con-
dition. In November and December,
however, owing to the financial dis
turbances, the output Of the mines is
estimated to have been curtailed about
33 per cent. But for this the produc
tion would probably have exceeded
100000 tons.
GROWTH OF INDUSTRY
The number of men employed in the
coal mines of Washington increased
from 4,529 in 1906 to 5,945 in 1907, and
the average number of working days
increased from 266 to 273. The only
decrease shown in the statistics of
COdI pTOuuCLlOH III w dSHluBlOu III 1JVt
as compared with 1906 was in the pro-
ductive capacity of the employees, the
average yearly tonnage per man hav-
ing declined from 1894 tons In 1906 to
619 tons in 1907. The average daily
production per man decreased from
2.72 to 2.27 tons.
Nearly all the mines of the state are
operated on an eight hour schedule,
5,594 men out of total 5,945 employed
txyn in iuh q N 1907
Washing apparatus has been in
stalled at six plants in the state, and
the total quantity OF coal washed dur
ing 1907 was 799,015 short tons, yield
ing 644,501. tons of cleaned coal and
154, ,514 tons of refuse
CASUALTIES SHOW INCREASE
D. c. Botting, state mine inspector,
reports that the total number of ac-
cidents in the coal mines of Washington
in 1907 was 131, of which 36 were fatal.
The death rate per thousand of en-
ployes> was SOC, and the number of
tons mined for each life lost was 102,-
237. This makes an unfavorable COM
parison with the casualty statistics for
1906, and particularly with those for
1906. In 1906 the death rate per thou
sand of employees was 4.S6 and the ton
mage for each life lost was 14S,917.
In 1905 the death rate per thousand was
2.73, with a tonnage of 220,379 for each
life lost.
The coal beds of Washington are
found in the western and central por-
tions of the state and are mined in
five principal fields-the north Puget
sound field, including the coal mines
of Skagit and Whatcom counties; the
south Puget sound field, comprising
the mines in King and Pierce coun-
ties; the Puget sound basin, just east
of Seattle; the Rosyln field, in Kit
titas county, on the eastern slope of the
Cascade mountains, and the southwest
crn field, embracing the counties of
Lewis and Cowlitz.
CHARACTER OF OUTPUT
The Goals of Washington range from
Ignite to bituminous coking Goals, and
include some natural coke and anthra-
cite The bituminous col1ing Goals of
Washington are the only coking Goals
on the Pacific slope of the United
States. They are found in the Wilke-
SON. Carbonate district, in the south
Puget sound field. and also in the
north Puget sound field, but coke is
now made only in the district first
named. The Wilkeson-Ca Carbonate coal
runs high In ash and is usually washed
before cooking. The Ignite or subbit-
in the south Puget sound field, are
generally of high grade and well suited
for domestic use. The steamship con-
the orient is now the most important
Goals of Washington