Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-06-18
over HALF MILLION In COAL
Geological Survey Gives Some Inter.
esting Figures Regarding Output of
Coal in North DakOta-StTikes Oc-
Cured at Three of the Mines in
the State.

The report Of the United tSaees
geological survey says: :
The total production of coal in
North Dakota in 1908, as reported to
E. w. Parker, Of the United States
Geological survey, was 320,742 short
tons, having spot value of 1922, 116.
All of the mineral fuel mined in
North Dakota is brown Ignite, exten-
sive beds of which underlie the
greater part of the western half Of
the state. This Ignite is not q fuel
of high grade, but is well adapted for
Dickinson Fire, and Press Brick COM
lpany, of Dickinson; the Scranton
Brick and Fuel Works, of Scranton;
and the Kenmare Brick and Coal
company, of Kenmare, are using
North Dakota Ignite in their kilns
and find it satisfactory for brickmak-
ling and also well adapted to use un-
er9boilers. According to these brick
manufacturers the Ignite is compara-
lively smokeless and sootless in COM
bustion. The time required to burn
| a kiln of. brick is from eight days
| to two weeks, according to the guam
fifty of moisture contained by the
brick when set in the kiln and the
quality Of brick required. One of the
manufacturers states that l ton of
Ignite Is equal to 1 cord Of ordinary
brickyard wood. 49,
In sympathy with the general de.
|pression, and also owing to the milder
winter of 1908, the production Of lig-
mite in North Dakota decreased from
[347, 100 short tons, valued at $780,.
1893, in 1907, to 320,742 short tons,
valued at 1922, ZIG, In 1908, decrease
of 27,019 short tons, or TIT per cent,
In quantity, and of $38,083, or 6.8 per
cent, in value. .s--..s,. =, ii
Notwithstanding the decrease, in
production, the number Of men en-.
|ployed in the Ignite mines increased
from 562 in 1907 to 631 In 1908 and
the average number Of working days
decreased from 223 to 181. The aver
age production per man was sos tons
In 1908. against 619 tons in 1907, while
the daily production for each en-
ployee increased from 2.78 to 2.8l.
Eleven underwriting machines were
employed in the mines of North Da-
kota in 1908, and the machine-mined
production amounted to 1O4.884 short
tons, against twelve machines. pro-
ducing 136,700 tons, in 1907.
Strikes occurred at three of the
Ignite mines In 1908, the periods Of
idleness ranging from twelve to
twenty days. The total number Of
men involved was 1O4, and the aver
age time lost was sixteen days.
There were eleven mines that en-
ployed JOB men and worked eight
hours a day; five mines, employing
la men, that worked nine hours;
and II mines, employing 217 men,
that worked ten hours.
According to Mr.. + r. Atkinson,
the state mine inspector, there were
four fatal and four nonfatal accidents
in the ignite mines Of North Dakota
during 1905. OF the nonfatal acci-
dents, three; were OF serious char
acter and one was of minor impor-
lance TWosmen were killed and one
was injnfed ~ falls Of roof in 4
rooms s; tHo men were injured by
powder explosions. and one man was
crushed to deathsby mine cars. One
other death and injury were attri-
buted to "other causes." 5,".> -