The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-03-30
STANDS Second
As Coke State
West Virginia Makes Strides
in This Important
Z Industry.

NASnHINAfItRN, ID. c., March 9J.-
West Virginia stil ranks second in
the production of coke among ali the
states. according to statistics for 1903.
just completed by Edward w. Parker.
of the United States Geological Sur
vey, hut is third in the value OF the
production. Alabama ranlcs second in
the value of It's coke productl,n, the
average price for coke in Alabama
being greater than that OF coke in
West Virginia.
The reason for this is tho same as
that which has been brought ont by
Mr.. Parker in regard 10 coal, the
value Of which in West Virginia is less
per ton than the value Of coal pro-
dutcd IN many other states, namely
the lack of il home market. In re-
cent article based on the figures OF the
Geological Survey. as prepared by Nm.
Parker It was pointed out that coal
operators Of West Virginia lose mil
lions of dollars because OF the lack
of a home market for their coal
which goes to enrich other commune
ties which have manufacturing enter
,prIses and the statistics on coke show
that the same principle Is involved in
this commodity and that the lack OF
Industries in West Virginia which
wonld use the coke produced In the
state causes the coke OF the state to
sell for lower price than II would
command IL there were factories at
home q use It.
Alabama, with its iron furnaces
and steel mills, consumes large part
Of the coke produced in the state and
the price Of the coke Is therefore
greater, because Of the shorter rail
road haul and the home demand.
West Virginia consumes practically
none Of its own ceke but ships it tc
Chicago or elsewhere for use in fur.
haces and mills of other states, and
une producers Obtain lower price for
their coke for this reason.
While the production OF coke in tho
United states in 1909 showed heavy
increase over that of 1908, both in
quantity of production and value. tht
production. and value both fell far
short Of what they were in the banner
year Of 1907. The production in bee
hive and retort ovens for 1909, in thu
United States. according to the report
of MIR. Parker, who is in charge Of the
coal statistics OF the Geological Sur.
y q IA eta J
at sos, 965,4S3, compared with 2G,o33.
els tons. values at s62,4SS. 9S3 in 1908
The Increase in 1909 over the preced-
ing year was thus 13,2S1.5 tons 0
5l.02 per cent in quantity. and $27
4S1,500. or 4S.92 per cent in value
The record for 1907 was 4O,77s,5Gl
tons valued at S111,53919G.
The first six months Of 1909 marked
q continuation OF the depression in tho
coke trade which prevailed in 1908.
Production was considerably in excess
OF demand and prices were unsteady
and Improbable. During the last half
of the year the conditions were great
~ improved. Demand caught up with
"'o'' ~ p''Nts "u'"''Seu ma
t't'ai'y' PM as me laFssF part 81 the
eoNe pFoaue' q l9u' was Soia AZ con
uuct pFlSeS mace N lSVS or curing
'he HFst s'N Hon'hS 81 ivy 'he aver
aye price lof me entire Twelve months
Sno"eu ueeilhf IN nearly every coke
'"anuiactuf'ns state
me genera average price Declined
rom Sz'4V IN ,l'oH 70 S2'29 IN 1909
IN me year OF greatest output and
h"sneSt prices l'o'' the average price
o' coke IN Vhe Uni'ed states was $2'7i.
vi me total production of &9'3l5'-
"NS snort tons OF coke IN 1909, 6,2'i'-
VA TONS or 10 per cent were made
AZ RS-prodpet plants and &3,o6o'+2l
snort tons al beehive ovens The value
Of inc hy-pFoduet coke made in 1909