The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1911-02-11
COAL INDUSTRY IN TEXAS, 1909.

In 1909, for the first time in eight
years, the coal production of Texas
exhibited decrease AS conse-
quence of the notable development
in petroleum resulting from the
bringing in of the famous Lucas
gusher' in January 1901. the out
put of coal in 1902 fell off 30 per
cent from the preceding year, but it
gradually and steadily recovered
until 1908 the production was more
than double that of 1902 or 1903.
The relapse in 1909 was also due TO
the invasion of petroleum, this time
from fields outside the state. The
great yield of oil from the Cad 10
and other districts in Louisiana and
from the Mil-Continent field of Kan
Sas and Oklahoma seriously affect
ed the progress of coal mining, as
duction in 1909 but in marked de-
cline in values. This was especially
noticeable in the Ignite fields for
although bituminous coal fell off in
price the output increased. The pro-
duction of Ignite decreased from
S47,970 short tons, valued at $6O2,
SS1, in 1909 The average price de-
clined from 80 to S5 cents ton.
The production of bituminous coal
Increased from ,047, 407 short tons
in 1908 to 1,112,22S short tons II
1909, and the value decreased from
0 ~ c n q - IL
age price per ton declining from
sac to s22S The net result was
decrease in the total production of
coal in the state from 1896, 31i
short tons, valued at So, l9 ,4Sl, in
1903, to 1,S24,440 short tons, val
ued at s3,141,945, in 1909, loss
Of 70,937 short tons, or So per cent,
in quantity, and of s277,536, or 81
per cent, in value,
The completion of the Wichita
Falls and Southern railway in 1908
afforded transportation facilities to
the coal properties of Young county
which were in process OF develop
ment ard which produced 1000 tons
in that year In 1909 Young county
produced over 1900 tons of coal,
and promises to become one of the
important coal-producing counties of
the state There are 16 counties IN
he state that produced coal or lig-
lite in 1908 and 1909 The counties
bituminous coal were
1rath. Maverick, Palo Pinto, Park
n, Webb, Wise and Young. The lig- |
lite-producing counties were Bas- |
rop, Fayette, Hopkins, Houston,
leon, Medina, Milan, Robertson |
nd Wood.
The coal mines of Texas gave en-
loyment to 4,196 men in 1909, |
gainst AGO in 1908. The average |
per man increased from |
81 tons in 1908 to 435 tons in |
909. S. j. Taylor, the state mine
reports that in 1903 there |
were men killed and 80 injured in
the coal mines of Texas. All men
We're killed by falls of roof or coal.
Falls of roof and coal caused 20 of
the 80 injuries, gas and dust ex-
plosions 4 powder explosions 2,
WInuN SHOtS d, Zip cars o. anu Ahl9
accidents 4
Only one labor dissatisfaction was |
exported in 1909-that at the newly |
,pened property of the Belknap Coal
in Young county where
90 men went on strike February "a.
The property was idle about so days
The employment of machinery
n the coal mines of Texas is in |
somewhat experimental stage Ma
hines have been installed in three |
mines. The total number of ma
hines in use in 1903 was II and the |
production by their use, was Il ,23o |
short tons Machines were used |
largely in entries and other narrow
places.