The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-17
REPORT ON WYOMING
1903 COAL OUTPUT
Government Experts Give the
Reasons Why a Decrease
Was Inevitable.

The geological surveys report on the
production OF coal In Wyoming in 1908
prepared by L. w. Parker. shows a tota
! production OF 5.iS9 .151 short tons, having
| n spot value OF IS. S66. .Si2. n decrease In
| quantity OF 763. $50 short tons. or 1e.22 pei
cent. and in value of sS65 .S25, or SO pei
| cent.
| IN addition to the decline in business
| caused by The financial depression. coal
| mining operations in Wyoming, as IN inc
adjoining state OF Montana. suffered
from an ovcrsupply OF fuel mined durinG
the summer and early fall OF 1907 when.
because OF repeated warnings OF tucl
famine by the transportation companies
consumers laid in supplies OF iuel IN or
dor TO avoid n repetition of the experience
of the preceding winter, when the puhlic
suffered greatly from the scarcity OF coal.
All of this coal WAS on hand when the
panic or 1907 closed down n great many
Of the mining and milling properties IN
Washington. Idaho and Montana. Many
OF these plants had not resumed opera
tons at the close OF zoos, and nearly all
had in their bins large quantities Of coal
which had been purchased during the
preceding year. The difference in propor-
lion between the decrease in value and
the decrease IN production was due 10
two cause.-the maintenance OF rat"
Of wages established when prosperity
market for steam coal where slack or
screenings could be used was practically
cut eff. so that the coal marketed con-
sisted of n larger proportion OF screened
coal. which commands higher price.
The average number OF mon employed
showed an increase from 66iJ in 1907 to
69t2 In 1905 but the average number OF
days worked decreased from 2I1 to III,
AS result OF the agreement made with
the United Mine Workers, nearly all the
mines IN Wyoming have been placed ON
an eight hour basis. 6S02 men employed
at fttyone mines. out of a total of 69l2.
working eight hours day during 1905
The labor troubles In the coal mines OF
Wyoming during 1908 were the result OF
an attempt TO reduce wages on the Ter
mination OF the wage scale agreement.
September /. The suspension of opera
tons affected the larger mining concerns.
fourteen mines, employing 1858 men Ca
little more than two-thirds OF the total
number of mine workers in the statcl.
reporting idlencss on account OF strikes.
The average number OF days idle was
y per man. and the total amount OF time
LOST was &C per cent OF the total time
made.
There were SS coal-cuttIng machines in
use in wyoming during 1908. an increase
product decreased. however. from 1875
i0g short tons in 1907 10 l,012,6l9 tons in
1905 and the percentage of the machine
mined tonnage 10 the total decreased
Der OF machines in use in 1908. ~ were
OF the pick or puncher type, so were
chain breast, and ] was long wall ma
chine.
In the history OF coal mining in the state
OF Wyoming occurred at Hanna No.
mine Of the Union Pacific Coal company,
where TWO explosions resulted In the
death OF eighteen men. Other losses OF
life were caused by falls OF rock and coal.
many OF which might have been avoided.
according Ia the mine Inspector. by
proper timbcrinc.