Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-09
State is One of the Most I'm.
portant Coal Assets
On the Western
Hemisphere.
DISPUTING FOR THE
SECOND PLACE.
Indications that Large Capi-
tai Will Be Brought
Into the State.

J. B. Johnston, editor OF the Coal
and Coke Operator of Pittsburg. who
is attending the West Virginia Coal
Mining Institute. sees in this !CInIedi-
possibilities In an interview with the
Leader Mr.. Johnston says:
West Virginia is the hope of The
future in coal production. The fact
that the state has sixteen thousand
square miles of coal bearing area. in
dicates her future as one of the great
assets OF the western continent. 1t
is perhaps unfortunate for West Vir-
are interested in her coal mining com
panies are non-residents. for the reas-
on that non-residents divest men OF
particular local pride and interest
In local affairs.
West Virginia is now dlsputing for
second place among all the states I'm
coal production. This dispute is en-
tirely and solely with the state OF
Illinais. and this dispute has fuctu.
ated between Illinois and West Vir.
ginia during the last four years. There
is little reason to doubt that West
Virginia will eventually take her per
manent place as second to Pennsyl-
vania in coal production, and uliim A.
tely take first place, for the reason
she not only has within her boun-
daries a greater coal bearing area
but that her Goals are of exce'lance
that is unsurpassed for every purpose
that coal can be used.
within recent years more particu-
larly within the last four years vast
sums OF money have been invested
in West Virginia coal districts. This
| foretells the bringing into the state
OF large capital and the distribution
| from time to time of very consider
able sums Of money In the nature
OF things this means commerce within
the towns and villages within the
areas and very greatly enlarged com.
mercial activity; for commerce de-
pends initially upon the capacity of
people 20 buy. and purchasing power
depends initially upon constancy. and
certainty Of payment for labor per.
/ formed This means the buying Of
! homes, the development OF civic pride
which in their turns lead TO q state
! pride, and foster national patriotism.
Speaking particularly and specifically
/ OF the coal trade, the men who direct
| the coal producing enterprises have
taken an advanced step. They seem
/ to have realized and to have appre.
ciated the fact that the cost OF coal
\ to the consumer is today not due to
the price asked by the producer but
that the cost OF the consumer is more
than one half due TO the fact ~ the
expense Of transportation and distri.
| button.
"The coal industry represents n
monetary investment OF certainly not
more than one firth Of all the indus
tries OF the United States. Railroads
/ agricultural and banking capital aioro
exceed the amount OF It's Investments
II disputes for place with all other
industries after these three are con.
sidered. II is to be said that the coal
! industry represented billions OF coal
tai that does not on the whole pay
back TO the investors in IL a fair rn.
turn on their investment. When YOU
consider that coal q sold az the r1ino
on the average not IN excess Of ninety
cents a ton, and at the same time con.
slider how vastly important and now
absolutely essential coal is for tnc
4 comfort and convenience Of the Deo.
pie. how dependent on coal is an
transportation and commercial move.
ments, we find a lamentablc lack of
knowledge Of how much OF human
comfort and modern civilization de.
pends upon the coal trade.