The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-30
OUTPUT OF COAL
IS MUCH REDUCED
Various Causes for Decreased
Production in Year Just
Being Closed.
HARD TIMES ARE FELT
Competition With Fuel Oil
and Gas Being Felt in
Many Sections.
HARD TIMES ARE FELT

According TO Edward W. Parker coal
statistician OF the United States reoioc-
teal survey the coai-mininc returns Tor
1911 indicate that the output OF the year
was no more and possibly less than that
of 1910. In spite OF the fact that most or
the mines in The Mississippi valley and
the southwestern states were closed down
for practically six months during 1910
The general feeling throughout this
region in 1911 was that business was
cxccntionally bad Some idea OF the
conditions nav be obtained irom lhc
statement that Illinois alone is capaplc
OF producing with her present develop
mcnt and coulpmcnt AS much coal as is
now produced In the entire interior re-
gion. including Illinois. Indiana. western
Kentucky Icwa Kansas. Missouri. ar
kanas. Oklahoma and Texas. In other
words, Illinois without opcniuS anothcr
mine can produce fully l0oO0O.0OO tons
OF coal. The market for Illinois coal can
in 1910. the year of the strike. Illinois
alone produced 46,0Qo,00o tons. The
effect OF these conditions is shown IN INC tnc
lower prices in 1911 compared with 1910.
II Is estimated that the price OF Illinois
coal was cents a ton less in 1911 than IN
the previous. year, In Indiana the price
was > cents less. and in the southwestern
district II was from 10 10 IL cents less. II
is claimed that the cost of mining has
been Increased in all portions OF inc re-
Competition With Fuel Oil
In tnc northern coal field of Michigan
conditions in 1911 were about the same as
in 1910, and the production will not
show much change when COMPARED win
the output Of the preceding year
In Iowa, in addition 10 the general oe-
preston In the manufacturing industries.
the dry weather during the year occa-
stoned tho closing OF many tile burning
kilns which reduced the demand for coal
from tnat source. Tho railroad companies
also reduced their requirements. The car
and labor supply in Iowa, as IN other
sections OF tho region, was entirely adc-
quate. In Kansas. Arkansas and Okla
homa competition with fuel oil and WITH
gas continues TO he a controlling factor,
and the competition OF Goals from Colo
RADIO. Alabama Kentucky and Illinois was
stronger in 1911 than in 1910. The mar
ketS for Arkansas and Oklahoma coal
have narrowed Down 10 points so close
TO the producing regions that the freight
rates from the mines in other states make
up for the cheaper cost Of mining In those
stat tes
An amelioratine factor, so far as Ar
kansas * concerned. is that the Arkansas
smokeicss coal is hesinninc 10 expand
its market for domestic trade. and In the
northern markets the public is gradually
beginning TO realize that the southwest
ern states produce high carbon smoke
less coal ranking icspcciallY for domestic
usc) In grade and quality with that pro-
duced in West Virginia. Because of this
| expansion in the trade for Arkansas
smokeIess coal. tho output of the state
increased In 1911 abou, 10 per cent over
1910, Tnc operators in Arkansas and
Oklahoma make vigorous complaint
against the hiSh mining rates which they
| arc compelled 10 pay IT is claimed that
| tho high cost OF mining has 50 restricted
the production that the working time has
been reduced 10 about 20 per cent OF tho
possible working davs during the wear,
and that the miners arc no better off, 50
far as annual wages are concerned,
| Not the least difficulty With which the
operators in Arkansas and Oklahoma
| have 10 contend " the perslstency OF the
| miners in shooting the coal from the solid.
This practice. Il is claimed. has increased
| the proportion OF lowcradc slack coal
| from 90 per cent formerly n large per-
centsge) to 40 per cent. whicn is now the
! minimum. Shooting from the solid not
only reduces the percentage OF salable
| coal, but by increasing the quantity OF
| fine coal and dust increases the liability
| 10 explosions,
Rocky Mountain Output.
The production Of coal in most of the
Rocky mountain states decreased in 1911
about 10 pcr cent, compared with 1910.
The reduction was due primarily, first to
| an unusually mild winter I'm ial0-ll; sec
| ond. drought in the agricultural states
west of the Mississippi river, which
caused large reduction in the demand for
| domestic purposes In South Dakota, Ne
| braska. Kansas. Texas and Colorado:
| third. a decreased consumption of coal in
locomotives ON account OF the reduced
traffic on practically all the western rail-
| roads and. fourth. the resumption OF coal
| mining operations in the central and
| southwestern states which had been sus-
| pended during the strike of 1910 This
strike In the middle west had crcnted an
| abnormal demand upon the coal mines
| OF the Rocky mountain states. particu-
| larlY in Colorado and New Mexico. The
| car supply was satisfactory throughout
! the year. as was also the sbor situat Ion.
except in the district north OF Denver.
! In Boulder county. where Il strike has
heen in progress since April !. 1910, The
mines OF this district are being operated
! with nonunion labor.
! In striking contrast TO the reprchcnsiblc
! practice OF shooting coal from the solid,
! as eXemplihed particularly in Arkansa :
| and Oklahoma, are the improvements
! In mining methods which have been put
! Into effect In some OF the Rocky noun
| tain states. especially In New Mexico
| On the Pacific coast conditions were
| not materially different in 1911 from what
! they were I'm 1910 The production of oil
| In California continued to be the domi-
| mating factor and probably will remain so
| Tor some years 10 come The enormous
| production Of this cne3p and desirable
! fuel Will probably have The effect of
| retardine the development Of tho Alaskan
coal fields as well az OF other fields along
| the Pacific coast.