The Colorado statesman., 1911-07-29
COAL PRODUCED
IN The WEST
COLORADO RANKS FIRST OF
STATES WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI.
SHOWS GOOD INCREASE
LAS ANIMAs COUNTY is MOST
IMPORTANT PRODUCER
IN COLORADO.

In the production of coal Colorado
ranks first among the states west OF
the Mississippi and seventh among all
the coal-producing states, according 10
statistics Just completed by Edward
w. Parker of the United States Geolog-
ical Survey. Its position among the
Western states was strengthened by
the record made in 1910, for although
in some of the Rocky Mountain states
there were larger percentages OF IN
crease in 1910 over 1909, Colorado's in-
crease in tonnage was the largest and
was more than one-third of the totai
increase made in the seven states COM
prising the Rocky Mountain and Great
Plains provinces. In the Mississippi
Valley states the production In 1911
was materially cut down by the min
ers' strike, which began on April
and was continued for nearly SIX
months. The cessation of operations
among the miners in the Southwestern
states created an unusual demand up
upon the mines of Colorado, New Mex
leo and Wyoming, the demand coming
principally from the railroad running
between the Rocky Mountains and the
Mississippi. There was also better
demand for domestic fuel and consid-
cradle quantities of coal for winter use
were stored in the cellars OF house
holders.
The influence of the strike on Colo
radios coal production was exhibited
in an increase of lib per cent, from
1O.716,936 short tons in 1903 to III
973.736 tons in 1910. The value in
creased from $14,296,012 to s17026,934,
q gain of 1911 per cent. the average
price per ton advanced from $1.33 In
1909 to SLAP in 1910.
Las Animas County Yields Nearly Haif
of the Total.
The TrinidadRaton coal field, fhe
Colorado portion OF which is located
IN Las Animas county, is the most ini'
portant producer in the state and was
credited with more than three-fourths
OF the total increase for the state III
1910. This county produces nearly oo
per cent of Colorado's total, contrib
uting 5,54S,0S5 short tons in 1910. Inc
county's increase in 1910 over l9o9
was 955.12l short tons, or 2O,79 per
cent. Huerfano county, the second in
production, with 20 per cent OF the
states total increased it's output All,
1870 tons, or 24.59 per cent.
Gain of 1870 Per Cent in Routt County.
Routt county held to the promise
made in 1909 with an increase of nearly
1SO per cent, from 92,439 tons in 1903
to 25S,452 tons in 1910. This county
in 1908 was credited with an output
Of $4,000 tons, the production in 1910
being about 20 times that quantity.
The completion in 1909 of the Denver
Northwestern & Pacific railway has
afforded opportunity for the develop
ment of the coal resources in the
northwestern part of Colorado, and
Routt county Is destined to be one OF
the more important coal-produclng
counties In the state. The only other
county whose production increased
more than 100000 tons in 1910 was
Fremont, which gained 110,162 tons.
The increases in these counties were
partly offset by a marked decrease In
Boulder county, the production or
which in 1909 had been unhealthy
forced In a keen competition for the
Denver trade. The output of this
county was increased from 1,067,94S
tons in 1908 to 1,332,322 tons in 1909,
but with a decided sacrifice in prices.
In 1910 the production fell off to S02.-
769 tons, decrease of 529,553 tons,
or 397 per cent, anr prices were re-
stored.