El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-04
Price Is Better, Demand Is
Better and Working Con
ditions Are Improved in
the Territory.

Washington. D. c., Jan. Accord
ing to reports received by the United
States geological survey from coal
mine operators and others familiar with
the industry, the production of coal
in the United States during 1910 was
between 100000 and $4,000, 900
short tons. considerable increase from
the output Of 459. 715.704 short tons In
1909 and approximately within 1 per-
centOf the maximum previous record
of 1853. 424 tons, produced in 1907.
Notable increases in production were
made IN the western counties OF Ken
lucky, in western Pennsylvania, and in
RADIO, New Mexico and Montana
Of the total production in 1910 the
anthracite mines of Pennsylvania con-
tributed nearly S3.000.000 short tons
and the bituminous mines between
100000 and 400, 100000 tons.
New Mexico.
In New Mexico the coal trade was
brisk throughout the year 1910, result
ing in an increased output Of about 80
percent over the preceding year. The
operators attributed three-fifths of the
increase to the closing down OF the
mines in other states and two-fifths
to the normal growth and to the re-
quirements due to improved business
conditions
According to 10 E. Sheridan, United
States mine inspector for New Mexico
there was constant demand for New
Mexico coal during the summer
months, which kept the mines busily
at work, and at only a few of the
smaller mines was the production
equal to the demand. Mr.. Sheridan
attributes the increased demand for
the coal of New Mexico partly to the
strike In the coal mines of the middle
states and the northern district Of
Colorado, and states also that the
growth of population and settlement
on new lands in New Mexico, Arizona,
and California have created a demand
which is certain to be permanent and
which will continue to increase. Both
the bituminOus and subbituminous
Goals OF New Mexico are rapidly grow
ing IN favor for domestic purposes,
the former being shipped from the
Ration field to markets in Kansas, Ok
lahoma, and even farther east. and the
subbituminous coal Of the Gallup dis
trict supplying the markets of the
Southwest and the Pacific coast
The domestic demand for New Mexico
coal in 1910 was so great that the
operators were unable to fill orders
promptly The domestic trade requires
lump coal, and an operator must have
a corresponding demand for the smaller
sizes for steam or manufacturing pur-
poses to be able to fill the domestic
orders. He can not afford to waste the
smaller coal The lack of demand for
steaming coal probably restricted the
production about 5 percent. Mr.. Sherf-
dan is of the opinion that the produc-
ton in 1910 would have been consid-
erably larger if the operators had been
able to obtain all the labor and railroad
cars they desired.
Freight Rates Cut.
One Of the benefits accruing to the
coal mining industry of New Mexico in
1910 was the reduction in the freight
rates on foreign Goals by the Mexican
railroads. When the Mexican govern
ment took over the control of the rail-
roads Of that country it increased the
freight rates on foreign Goals In the
hope of encouraging the development
of the Mexican mines. AS the railroads
had considerable coal on hand they
were able to furnish a sufficient sup
ply of fuel during 1909, but with the
depletion Of the reserves it was found
that the Mexican mines could not sup
ply the demands Of the railways and
the other industries. In order to meet
this deficiency with New Mexican coal,
the Mexican government reduced the
freight on coal to the old rate and it