The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

Market within the state.
The production of coal in Missouri in
1905 according to statistics collected by
the United States Geological Survey IN
der cooperative agreement. with II. A
Buehler. State geologist, was 3.317,3l5
short tons. having spot value OF $5.44,-
9O7.
IN Missouri as IN Arkansas, Kansas.
and Oklahoma, the coal mining Industry
in 1908 was adversely affected more by
the increased production and consumption
% petroleum and natural gas IN the mid
continent field than by the business de-
preston Natural gas from the Eastern
Kansas fields Is now piped 10 Kansas
City. St. Joseph. and Joplin. No. and at
Atchison. Leavenworth, Lawrence. Ar
kansas City. Winfield. Wichita. yelling
ton. Hutchinson, Pittsburg. and Ca
lena. Kans.
on from the same fields and from
Northern Oklahoma is being extensively
used for fuel at Kansas City. These con-
ditions have naturally affected the coal
production Of Missouri
Maximum in 1903.
The coal mining industry OF the state
reached its maximum production, 4,23S 5Ss
short tons IN 1903 L decreased slightly
in 1904. 19o5 and 1896: rose somewhat in
1907. 10 3.sg7.s35 short tons. but decreased
again in 1903 by eS0.sI short tons. or 17.O2
per cent in quantity. and by Sl.os5.S2. or
1915 per cent. IN value. The difference in
the price per ton in 1893 as compared with
1907 was only a small fraction OF a cent
To Missouri's coal production in the last
few years should be added a considerable
tonnage credited 10 Kansas. the workings
Of the mines at Leaveuworth extending
under Missouri River into Missouri terri
tory and the larger part OF the produe-
ton Of LeavenwOrth County, Kans., be-
ing IN fact taken from beds underlying
Platte County, No. Possibly a QutF er ot
a million tons Of the coal credited<0 Kan
sas Is mined IN Missouri
Labor and Operating Conditions.
In spite OF the decreased production IN
1905. the number or men employed was
per cent larger than in 1911. This was duo
10 the slight demand for labor in other
lines OF industry, particularly among the
metal mines, which resulted In a surplus
or labor in the coal mining districts The
total number Of men employed n 1865 was
S.SSS. but the average number Of working
days was Is9, against ~ days in 1907
4 good deal OF the idle time was due 70
the suspension OF operations by the union
mine workers on April l. which lasted
about TWO months. The total number OF
men on strike was $3.50, and the total
time lost was 355I3S days, an average OF
S. days 10 a man. or about 3 per cent Of
the total time made during the year. The
average production for each employe was
ESQ tons. compared with 473 tons IN 1907
and Ss3.2 tons in 1896. The average daily
production for each emplOye IN 1875 was
2.lS short tons, against 2.I tons IN 1877
and 213 tons IN 1906.
Practically all the more important coal
mining operations in Missouri are con-
d1cted on the basis % an eight-hour day,
l49 mines employing a total Of S.464 men.
So reporting IN 1905
Use of Machines Limited.
The use OF mining machines for under
cutting coal in Missouri IS almost entirely
confined to the thin beds. where machines
o. the long-wan type can be used 10 ad-
vantage. In 1905 the number OF machines
reported in use was -. OF which 81 we're
long-walI machines and 5 OF the pick or
puncher type. The quantity OF coal mined
by machine IN 1903 was 479.S50 short tons.
or l4F per cent OF the total output,
against 4S6.SS2 short tons or 121S per ccua
OF the total output, in 1907.
Only one company in Missouri Is report
ed as having installed washing machin-
cry. This com any has four Stewart figs
IN operation and IN 1905 washed 74l0f
short tons Of coal. obtaining 55.57S tons or
cleaned coal and 1888 tons OF refuse
J. ". Marstellar. secretary OF the Mis-
souri, bureau of mines and mine inspec-
ticn. reports total OF ten fatal and
thlrty-six nonfatal accidents in the coal
mines of the State during 1908. Nine out
OF the ten fatalities were caused by falls
OF roof and one man was crushed by
mine cars.
OF the nOnfatal accidents. twenty-four
were due TO falls of roof or coal six wers
due 10 mine cars. two men were caught
by the cage. and four accidents were due
10 miscellaneous causes. The death rate
per thousand in 1907 was little less than
/: in 1908 il was Ill The number OF tons
mined Ger each life lost IN 1907 was 4s9. .742;
in 1908 It was 53l. .132
Market Is In Missouri.
The market for the coal product OF Mis-
souri, IS practically confined 10 the States
own borders. as il IS surrounded by other
large coal-producing States-Iowa on the
north. Kansas on the west, Arkansas and
Oklahoma on the south, and Illinois and
Kentucky on the east Moreover. some
Of the larger cities draw their principal
fuel supplies from the neighboring States,
81 Louis, Tor instance, being chiefly sup
piled with coal by Illinois. and Kansas
City drawing its fuel largely from kan
sas
The original coal supply OF Missouri. as
estimated by NJ. r Campbell, Of she Unit
ed States Geological Survey. was $1,000
100000 short tons. included within an area
Of 1900 square miles. The production OF
tho State. according 10 the best records
available. amounted az the close OF 1908
TO lO0e35.421 short tons, representing ar
exhaustion Of approximately Isl. 900 .ooO
tons, or GA per cent OF the estimated orig
inal supply.
Japan Needs Wood Pulp.
Minister T. J. O'Brien. at Tokyo. re-