The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-22
Most Successful Years Mining
in the History Of Utah
Experienced.
REPORT GIVEN BY
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Over Two and a Quarter Mil
lion Tons Mined in
the Year.

Utah's coal production in 1909 ex-
ceedcd, for the first time in the history OF
the state. a total of 10000 900 short tons.
The output. as announced by the United
States geological survey. increased from
! .S36.792 short tons, valued at S3.l99,3SS,
In 1908 To 2,2G6,S99 short tons, valued at
50, i5i ,060. In 1909-a gain OF 420,l0I
short tons. or pa per cent in quantity,
and OF s637722. OF 20.5 per cent. in value.
Compared with 1907. when the previous
highest output was recorded, the produc-
ton in 1909 showed an increase of Sl9,392
short tons in quantity and Of S79T,291 in
value. The increase In 1909 was made
almost entirely in Carbon county. which
alone produced more coal in 1909 than the
entire state produced in any year prior
to 1909. and the countyS increase in 1909
over 1908 was three times the total pro-
duction Of all the other counties COM
blned.
AS in the other states of the Rocky
mountain region, Utah's increased coal
production in 1909 was due to the revival
In the metal mining Industry and 10 the
general prosperity which came from good
harvcsts in the agricultural sections.
There was no Interruption to mining
operations due to labor troubles, and
transportation facilities were better than
usual in a bumper" year.
j, L. Petit, state mine Inspector re-
ports that in 1909 there were sixteen ia
tai and eighty nine non-fata accidents
None OF these was due 10 explosions of
gas or dust. Falls OF roof or coal killed
eleven and injured fifty -one, one man
was killed and ono was injured by powder
explosions, the other casualties we're due
TO unspecified causes. Since 1885 Eek
cludins 1894 and 1895, when the statistics
of accidents were not compiled) there
have been altogether 945 accidents. each
death or injury being recorded as sepa-
rate accident, in the coal mines Of the
tl.E.. no (,.t. Il
6iS were non fatal. Nearly 40 per cent Of
the fatal accidents occurred in 1900, when
explosion at the Winter Quarters
mines cost the lives of 200 men, Except
for that notable calamity. the Utah
mines have been practically free from
accidents of this kind. the total number
of deaths from explosions for the entire
period. exclusive OF 1900, having been
The areas in Utah known TO contain
workable beds OF coal are estimated by
M, R. Campbell of the United States
geological survey 10 aggregate Is, 100
miles OF which little is known. but which
may contain workable beds OF coal. The
original contents Of these fields are esti-
mated by Mr.. Campbell TO have been
1876. Cos. 900 900 short tons OF coal.
The first production Of coal in Utah was
reported in the census year 1870. when
$500 short tons were mined. In 1880 the
census reported a total of 1474S tons.
although this was undoubtedly an under
estimate In 1890 the production had
increased to 3IS.5l9 tons, In 1900. for the
first time il reached an amount exceeding
00o. 900 tons. and in 1909 reached its
maximum output of 2.266Soa tons
An advance chapter OF tho survey s
annual report Mineral Resources Of the
United states" calendar year 1909. on
the production Of coal I'm tho United
States in 1909 ~. Edward w, Parker. is
now in preparation and will be ready for
distribution in January.
Tho statistics or coal production for
1909 have been collected by the United
States geological survey in cooperation
with the bureau of tho census. and the
compilation of the replies TO the numer-
Gus and detailed inquiries contained in
tho general census schedule has DELAYED
the publication OF the statistics far be-
yond the time at which the geological
SURVEY usually presents them To the pub
lie. The thorough nature of tho work
done. however has made the statistical
results exceptionally complete and trust
worthy.