The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-04
PENNSYLVANIA coKF.
Production Of It in 1908 Told by Geo.
logical Survey.

AAuuuNAAvh VI AZ IN lYud LOi4 by Jeo-
logical Survey
In the manufacture Of coke, as in the
mining Of coal Pennsylvania stands su.
preme among the states. For more than
a quarter Of century, or practically
since the manufacture Of coke assumed
any Importance as an industry. she has
contributed over so per cent. Of the total
coke product Of the United States. This
supremacy was maintained in 1908. not.
withstanding the pronounced decrease in
production due 20 the business depres.
sion and the decline in The output 81
Pig iron. According 70 r. w. Parker of
the United States geological survey,
wose report on the manufacture Of coke
in 1908 has just been sent to the printer.
Pennsylvania produced $500 per cent.
Of the total coke output Of the United
States in 1907 and 50.5s per cent. Of the
total in 1905
The quantity Of coke produced IN
Pennsylvania in 1908 was 1851 1884
short tons, out Of a total for the United
States Of 2603s,5l8 short tons. In 1907
Pennsylvania produced 265i32lf short
tons out Of a total Of 40TT0 56i tons.
The production in 1908 showed de.
crease Of ll00l $50 short tons. or as
per cent, from that Of 1907, Or Of 1.548,.
ST7 short tons, OF 1927 per cent, from
that Of 1905. The years 1906 and 1907,
however were years OF plenty in the
coatmining and production. II,
however, the production Of Pennsylvania
in 1908 is compared with the average
Of the eight preceding years, it Is noted
that the production still shows de-
crease Of 2,507, lss short tons. or lab
per cent. The production in 1903 was
the smallest since 1904.
The conditions in 1908 we're almost a
direct contrast 10 those which prevailed
during the preceding year During 1907
until the effects Of the financial troubles
began to be felt there was scarcely a
time that the production was N excess
Of the demand, whereas in 1908 the occa.
sions we're just as scarce when the sup
ply was not in excess 0f the market
requirements. The result Of these con-
ditions Il exhibited in the proportionate.
" larger decrease in the value Of the
coke as compared with the decrease in
product The total value OF the coke
produced in Pennsylvania in 1908 was
s32 500 .62l, against 367 83s 024 in 1907
showing a decrease Of SIS per cent The
decrease in tonnage was as per cent.
The decrease in the value Of the produc.
ton in 1908 was greater than the value
Of the entire coke output Of pennsyl
yania in 1904
The average price per ton obtained for
coke IN Pennsylvania IN 1908 was $40.
as compared with $3.50 in 1907 s2.95
IN 1905. and S2.05 in 1905 The only
reason TO Be assigned for the excess ID
the 1908 priye over that Of 1905 Is the
fact that operators were able through
contracts 10 maintain prices and thus
prevent entire Generalization, and also
The fact that a large proportion 81 the
coke produced in Pennsylvania Il not
placed on the market but i used by the
producers themselves or by allied inter
ests, and the value placed upon it is
purely arbitrary.
The quantity Of coal consumed in The
manufacture Of coke in Pennsylvania In
1908 was 232l5904 short tons, valued
at S23, 250.Ss5 his represents 1881 per
cent Of the total production Of bitumin-
Gus coal in Pennsylvania during the year
In 1907 the consumption Of Goa In
the manufacture Of coke was 39T33,l7
short tons, valued at s42,732 $40, repre-
senting 264 per cent. Of the states total
bituminous coal production The much
smaller percentage in the quantity Of
coal used for coke making Ii 1908 %
compared with tile preceding year indi-
Gates that the decrease IN the demand
for coke BY the iron furnaces was il
greater proportion than that IN the de.
mand for coal from other consumers of
fuel. The difference between the value
Of the coke and the value Of the coal
from which it was made in 1908 was 50
3is.726, or 40.l per cent; in 1907 the
difference was S24,905,47s or 5s.3 pei
cent
The number Of coke making establish
ments in 1908 was 252, one less than il
1907, although the total number Of ovens
in the state increased from 81 1854 to |
81 .608. OF these establishments a were
idle. and o. the $4,000 ovens 1916 were
out Of blast through out the year.