The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-29
COAL IN WASHINGTON IN i9os.
Statistics Collected by the United States
Geological Survey.

The total production 81 coal in wash
ington 10 1908, as reported to E. W.
Parker of the United States Geological
Survey, was 8Ol6.557 short tons, having
a spot value Of S6,673,00l
The record made By the coal-mining
industry Of Washington in 1908 was IN
pronounced contrast TO that Of the pre-
eeding year. In 1907, Notwithstanding
the increased 4oa .84S short tons over that
Of 1906, the mines Of the state sharing
in the general prosperity that marked
the first nine month Of 1907. Il was
estimated, however. that in November
and December, 1907, the output at the
mines was curtailed about 33 per cent
as compared with the earlier months Of
the year The statistics for 1908 show
that the unsatisfactory conditions which
prevailed in N0yebmer and December,
1907. continued throughout 1905 Com
pared with the record output Of 1907
the production ID 1908 showed a decrease
Of 66s.g75 short tons. or 1900 per cent.
The value declined sl006,7l0, or 1910
per cent, and the output was the small
est in any one year. except one (i905l
since 1903 Notwithstanding the fact
that the decrease in production was due
To the business depression. the average
price per ton in 1905 showed an increase
over 1907 The same increase in price
was shown in other states and may be
attributed To the fact that in periods Of
dull times buyers demand a higher grade
Of fuel and the market for slack and 9th.
er grades used for steam-raising pur-
poses shows the greatest decrease.
The coal mines Of Washington gave
employment to an average Of 5.4l3 men
in 1905. a decrease from 5,9#5 men in
1907 The average working time de-
creased from 273 days IN 1907 to 203
days in 1908, but where men work
fever number Of days during the year
the intensity 81 labor may be increased.
IN the coal production Of Washington
this il shown BY the fact that the aver
aga daily production per man increased
from 227 tons in 1907 to 274 in 1908.
bat because OF the fewer number Of DAYS
worked the total production per man for
the year shows a decline from 6l9 tons
ia 1907 to 557 in 1905 in 1906 the
average tonnage per man for the year
was 1884 short tons, and for each day
2.72 tons
All the important mines of the state
are operated on an eight-hour day. Out
Of total Of Sab men in 1905 4,665
were reported as working eight hours.
IN 1907, out Of total Of 5,945 men. 5,594
worked eight hours The labor difficult
ties in 1908 were limited to the strike
Of 226 men at the Wilkeson mines, in
Pierce county This strike began IN No
vember. 1907, and had not been declared
officially off at the close of 1908. The
mines continued to operate, however, al
though the production decreased approx
mately so per cent
Four mining machines were in use in |
Washington during 1908, and the ma
chine mined product amounted to 10000 |
tons No machine-mined coal was re-
ported in 1907 Somewhat over one
third Of the total, or l,09s,s7a short tons, !
of Washington's coal production in 1908 /
was washed at the mines before ship |
ment. The washington yielded s59,042 |
short tons Of cleaned coal and 1897 |
tons Of refuse
According to D. C. Betting, the state
mine inspector, the accidents in the coal