The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
COAL OUTPUT IN
 STATE OF TEXAS Was l,895,3777 Short Tons in Year 1908 ITS VALUE WAS $3,419,481 Production Increased on Account of Decreasing Use of Petroleum and Demands of Growing Population.
 Not Affected by Depression.
ITS VALUE WAS $3,419,481

From the Washington Herald.
 The total production of coal in Texas in 19oS as reported by E. w. Parker, of the United States Geological Survey, was 1.S95,s77 short tons, having a spot value of sS.419, 4S1.
 Texas was one of the few states which exhibited an increase in the production of coal in 1908 over 1e07.. Part of this in- crease was due to the continued decrease in the production of petroleum and in It's use for fuel purposes within the state, this decrease amounting to more than 100000 barrels, or about 10 per cent in 1908.
 Other reasons for the increase in coal production have been Me rapid growth of the population of the state and the prevailing prosperous conditions, which were not in any material degree adverse ly influenced by the general depression throughout the country. The output of bituminous coal increased from 940337 short tons, valued at s2,062,918, in 1907, to .407 short tons, valued at $2,5Sos91. in 1908, gain of IA per cent in quantity and of 25.1 per cent in value.
 Sold for $2.10 Ton.
 The average price for bituminous coal advanced from s2.19 in 1907 to S2.46 in 1909. There was decline of 9 cents 8 ton in the average price of Ignite. but the pro- duction increased from 707,732 short tons to S47,97O tons in quantity and from $15,- S93 to $S38, 490 in value. The total increase for all coal in 1908 was 247,308 short tons, or 150l per cent in quantity, and s64o,6lo, or 2306 per cent in value.
 A branch line of the Wichita Falls and Southern Railway from Wichita Falls to the bituminous coal areas of Young County was completed in 1908, and that county entered the list of producers with a toal output of 1000 tnos. The bitu- minous coal mines in Mccullough County were idle in 1908, however, so that the number of producing counties (sixteen) was the same as In 1907.
 The couties producing bituminous coal were Erath, Maverick, Palo Pinto, Park CT, Webb. Wise and Young. and the lig- mite producing counties were Bastrop, Fayette. Hopkins, Houston, Leon, Me dina, Milan, Robertson and Wood.
 Operating Conditions.
 The coal mines of Texas gave employ ment in 1908 to 4.400 men, who worked on an average of 254 days, against APT men average daily production per man in the bituninous mines was 123 short tons and in the Ignite mines BPS tons.
 The average daily production per man for both bituminous and Ignite was IT tons in 1908, against 161 in 1907 The average annual production per man In 1908 was 431 short tons. against 39o tons in 1907. In the bituminous mines the aver age annual production per man In 1908 was 326 short tons and in the Ignite mines it was "A tons.
 ci nnphineS in the coal mines of Texas in 1908, a de- crease from 13 In 1907, and the machine mined tonnage decreased. from 36,100 to 15.000 Tn most of the bituminous mines of the state the men worked eight hours per day. but in the Ignite mines the rule was ten hours.
 Coal Reserve of Texas.
 M R. Campbels estimates of the coal areas of Texas place the bituminous fields known to contain workable coal at S2OO square miles, with $500 square miles of area not so we'll known that may con- tain workable coal. The known Ignite areas cover 2OOO square miles, while there are 53,00O square miles. extending from Sabine and Red River on the east and north to the Rio Grande on the southwest, which may contain workable beds of ignite.
 The estimated original supply Of bitu- mnous coal of Texas in placed at S,000, 100000 short tons and that of Ignite at 23, GOO 000. 900 tons. making total of 31.- GOO 00O,0 900 tons. There had been produced to the close of 1908 a total of 16,340,325 short tons, which represents an exhaus- ton of approxmately 25,0O0,000 tons, or o0S per cent of the original supply. The coal left in the ground at the close of 1908 would be equal to 16300 times the pro- duction of that year.