Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-09-20
IOWA PRODUCES MORE COAL.
Over Nlillion-DOlIar Increase i'm
1910, according to Govern
ment Reports.

The total production of coal in
Iowa in 1910 was 7,92S,129 short
tons, valued at $13,903,913, an in
crease of 170,35S tons in quantity
and of S1,110,2S5 in value over the
figures for the preceding year, ac-
cording to statement just issued by
E. w. Parker, coal statistician of the
United States Geological Survey.
The benefit derived by Iowa coal
operators from the strike in the Illi-
nois field was principally in eliminat-
ing the competition of Illinois coal
from the comparatively local mar
kets, which are the natural territory
of the Iowa mines. Coal operators
in Iowa have complained that Illinois
coal has more favorable freight rates
than those accorded to Iowa coal.
and that the mining rates originally
fixed to compensate differences in
freight charges have not been chang
ed when freights on Illinois coal
were reduced, so that the Iowa mines
have been placed at disadvantage.
The statistics for 1909 indicated an
improvement in these conditions, for
the production was the largest in the
history of the state, and prices were
the highest in recent years. In 1910
the idleness in Illinois reacted upon
the Iowa production more in the way
Of still higher prices than by any
marked increase in production. APP
parently the only reason assignable
for the comparatively small increase
is that the mines were operated to
their full capacity with the available
supply of labor. That there was no
exodus from the Illinois mines to
those of Iowa is shown by the fact
that fewer men were employed in
the Iowa mines in 1910 than in
1909. There were some strikes, but
they were not as protracted as in
Illinois, and the total time lost was
only about 10 per cent of the time
worked. The general strike which
began on April 1st lasted in Iowa
about six weeks, whereas in Illinois
it lasted practically six months.
Coal was mined in 22 counties OF
Iowa in 1909 and 1910.
The Iowa coal mines gave employ
ment in 1910 to 1866 men, who
worked an average of 21S days. OF
these men 5000 were on strike dur
ing the year, the average period OF
idleness being IA days. The aver
age production per man was 476 tons
for the year. Most of the mines OF
the state are operated hours day
Iowa probably ranks second among
the states west of Mississippi river
in order of priority as a coal pro.
Queer At the census of 1910 Iowa
and Missouri were the only states
west of the river in which any Goa
production was reported. Missouri
however, was credited with an out
put Of nearly 10000 tons, while
Iowa's production was given at 40(
tons. Iowa's total ccal production
to the close of 1910 has amounted
to nearly 164, 100000 short tons
which, including the estimated loss
of half ton for every ton recovered
represents an exhaustion of approx
imately 247, 100000 short tons. The
original supply of coal in Iowa, as
estimated by NJ. r. Campbell of the
United States Geological Survey, was
20, 1000 short tons, from
which it appears that at the close OF
1910 over %, 100000 short tons
or a little over 80 per cent of the
original supply, was still available.