The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-10

Geological Surveys Report on Industry
for 1908.

Geological Surveys Report on Industry
for 1908.
A report by 4. w. Parker OF the
United States geological survey on the
manufacture of coke In 1905 is now IN
press as an adyasce chapter from MIN.
era resources OF the United States. cal.
endar year 1908" According to this re-
port. the combined production Of beehive
and retart oven coke in the United States
in 1908 amounted TO 28O33,5ls short
tons, valued at 1872, 4S3 $685. against 40
7T0564 short tons, valued at slll.53n..
l20 In 1907 In the earlier wear the
production exceeded an previous records
in the history Of coke making is the
United Statesi the average price per
ton in that year was also the highest
ever recorded. Compared with 1907 the
production in 1908 shows a decrease Of
h746046 short tons, or 96.l4 per cent.
in quantity, and Of 40,O55,l43, or 1929
per cent IN value The average price
per ton 1T the ovens declined from S274
to 800 OF the total 1908 output Ell.
S32,292 tons. OF $3.50 per cent. was pro.
ducad III beehive ovens and 4.20l POO
tons, or 1914 per cent in retort ovens.
The decrease IN beehive coke from 1907
was l3.33a.373 short tons, or 1898 per
cent, and in by-product coke l.406.613
tons, or 25.0s per cent.
Coal Used.
The quantity Of coal consumed in the
manufacture Of coke in 1905 was 80.
f40.s3T short tons. valued at S45,212 4T4
The value of tie coke produced from
this coal was S62 ,4sa.0S3, difference 81
Sl7 POI 500, which, less The cost 81 manu-.
faetnre and the expense 81 administrs
ton, etc. represents the profit on the
coking operations. IN 1907 the value Of
the coal used was T27Si.S5l and the
value Of the coke produced from this
slll539,l20, difference Of sSs,754275
A Year Of stagnation.
After the depression which marked the
closing months 81 1907. the early part
of zoos showed signs 81 returning aetiy
itv tn The iron industry. and there were
some isdicRtions Of revival 81 business
in the coke making districts. During
January the production increased consid
eraby a. compared with the closing
months Of 1907 aud operators were hope
full Of an early return of prosperity !
Toward tile latter part Of February, hoW
ever, the demand and production fell 81,
and hY March there was a general he
in The business Conditions Inn
proved slightly later in the year and in
December two thirds of the ovens were
h operation and one.third idle, as com
pared with the reverse condition i'll May
however, the year 1908 must
be considered one 81 general stagnation /
in the coke maksg industry The aver.
age price per ton was lower than that I
Of either 1906 OF 1907, but exceeded that /
Of 1904 and 1905
Increase in Number Of Ovens.
Notwithstanding the decrease in pro.
iuction il 1908 as compared with LOOT I
there was an increase ID the number Of
ovens from 99Gs0 10 l0i2ls OF the 4
total number Of ovens III .2a0 were idle
throughout the year l00s, though many
more were ont 81 blast for D good pof
tics Of the time IN 1907, ont 81 2 total
81 09.6s0 ovens. a,934 were idle during
the year The average production Of the
active ovens was 294.s tons IN 1908. as
against 1904 tons per oven III 1907 The
average production for the retort ovens
ii the same years was, respectively.
l,l5sg. SOD, l.4f2. and l.l42 tons. IN
1905 the average production from By
product ovens was a little more than
three times that from beehive ovens.
asd in ZOOS It was nearly six times.