Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-28
OUTPUT OF COAL
IN NEW MEXICO
CURTAILED PRODUCTION Is
ONLY SIX PER CENT
PANIC YEAR LITTLE DISTURBS
INDUSTRY
Government Report Shows 2,467, ,937
Short Tons, Valued at $3,369,753.
Falling Of in Demand the
Only Drawback

The total production of coal in New
Mexico in 1908 was 2,467, 937 short tons,
having a spot value of $3,36S, 1853. ac-
cording to statistics collected by e. W,
Parker of the United States geological
survey.
New Mexico did not suffer SO much
from the panic and business depres-
sion of 1908 as did some of the other
coal mining regions of the United
States. In preliminary statement
issued by the United States geological
survey early in January it was stated
the production of the territory
in 1908 was not more than 10 per cent
/ less than in 1907. The statistics COM
piled show that the actual decrease
was 161, ,O22 short tons. or Gle per cent.
from 2.62S, 959 short tons in 1907 to
2,467 9S7 tons in 1908. The value de-
creased in somewhat greater proper
tion-from $3,S32, 12S to $5.36S,75S, de-
cline of S46S,975. or 1909 per cent. The
average price a ton declined from $1.46
in 1867 to $1.37 in 1908.
The features of the year We're the
heavy falling off in the demand for
coal by the railroads and by the manu-
featuring and smelling industries and
the considerable increase in the pro
ducton of coke by the Stag Canyon
| Fuel company of Dawson, COfaX
/ county. This coke is shipped to allied
interests in Arizona and displaces
equivalent amounts of eastern coke i'll
that market.
Disposition IN Coke
The amount of coal made into coke
in 1907 was 49S,279 short tons; in
1908 it was 450,114 short tons. an ap-
parent decrease in 1908 of about 4S0O0
tons The figures for 1907, however
cover washed coal. The quantity of
! coke produced in New Mexico in 1907
was 265,125 short tons; in 1908 it was
274,565 short tons. an increase of 9440
short tons
The coke manufacturers of the terri
tory, who had to depend on outside
markets, were at a considerable d1sad-
vantage, as when the panic came in
1907 the Arizona smelters who did not
suspend operations had large amounts
of coke in storage and in transit. Dur
ing the prosperous times of 1906 and
! 1907 from 800, 900 to 100000 tons of
/ eastern coke had been shipped into the
portion of this had not been used there
was a decided glut in the market dur
ing the first half of 1908. This resulted
in the closing down of number Of
Colorado and New Mexico ovens.
The production of coke at other
plants than at Dawson showed a de-
cided decrease. By the latter part Of
the year the accumulated stocks had
been practically used up and the de-
mand for New Mexico coke improved
to some extent.
During the entire year there was an
ample supply of cars, there were no
strikes or other labor troubles and the
supply of labor was abundant. In
New Mexico, as in the other coal min
ing districts of the Rocky mountains
the effects of the depression on the
metal mining industry threw a surplus
of labor into the coal mines, so that
notwithstanding the decreased produc-
| tion in the territory the number OF
men employed in the coal mines showed
an increase from 297O in 1907 to 34iS
in 1905
Average Working Time
The average working time decreased,
| however, from 269 days in 1907 to 49,
| days in 1908. During the year there
were many weeks when the coal mines
were operated for one or two days
| only but as is usual under such cir
]
| of the men was increased The average
daily production a man. which had
decreased from 3.92 tons in 1906 to 329
tons in 1907, increased to 1863 tons in
| 1908. The average production a man
for the entire year O9OS) was 716 tons.
| against SS5.2 tons in 1907 and 949 tons
| in 1906. Most of the mines in the ter
ritory were operated on a ten-hour
basis. Fourteen mines, employing 3015
| men. reported ten hours as the length
of the working day in 1908; six mines,
| employing 1856 men, worked nine hours,
and five mines, employing thirty men,
worked eight hours
| ] r.. Sheridan, the territorial mine
! inspector, reports that during the
calendar year 1908 there were twenty
three fatal accidents. In Mr.. Sheri-
| dams official reports, covering the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1908, thirty
| four fatal accidents are recorded.
In 1907 there were three mining ma
! chimes in use in New Mexico and H.
els tons OF coal We're machine mined.
In 1908 there were seven machines, and
machine mired product of $4,000 tons
was reported
IcRIInN AMheL AIkac