The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-09
USE Of OIL AND GAS AFFECTING
PRODUCTION Of COAL IN STATE

/ Washington, d. c., Feb. 8.-That
| the use of oil and gas as fuel is Sc
riously affecting the production OF
coal in oklahoma is the reason as
signed by the United States geologic
al survey for the comparatively
small increase in the production OF
the Oklahoma coal mines in 1909.
In the United States geological
surveys preliminary review OF the
coal mining industry in 1909, it was
given out that the production in
Oklahoma was about the same as liz
1898. Complete returns show that in
stead there was slight increase in
1909 the production for the years
oeing respectively 2,94S,l1 and j.
1897 short tons. The increase of
I7l,2G1 tons or 5.S per cent was less
than might ihave been expected
from the normal development of the
regions dependent on oklahoma for
fuel. The production in 1909 fell
short of the 1907 production by more
than 100000 tons.
Among the reasons for the rela-
tive retrogression in the production
of Oklahoma coal, the competition
of crude petroleum from the Mid
Continent field has first place. In
1913 that field produced 4S,323,SlO
barrels OF crude petroleum, and in
1909 approximately $1,000, 900 barrels,
of which probably about 10 per cent
was used for fuel and was equivalent
to displacement of approximately
l,5OO, 900 tons of coal. Aside from the
natural advantages possessed by oil
in ease of handling and in freedom
from cinders and ashes, there is an
other reason for preferring it to coal
During recent years the consumers
of coal have had regular biennial
Interruptions to their supply of fuel
by the controversies between the
miners and the operators over the
wage scale. There is no doubt that
the consumers are becoming tired
of these shutdOwns and are inclined
to welcome other fuels of which
they may be assured steady sup
ply. The effect of the competition
of oil and gas in 1909 was exhibited
| in the decline in price for Oklahoma
coal-from $203 a ton in 1908 to
! $500 in 1909. In fact, the year was
fa' from satisfactory to the produc-
| ers for while the prices were lower
mining expenses were enhanced by a
drought from June to December
which made it necessary to haul
water for the boilers at some OF
the mines.
The number of men employed In
the oklahoma coal mines increased
from 1851 in 1908 to $3.50 in 1909
The average production for each mar
employed increased from BAL to 50!
short tons. Labor troubles did moi
interfere with mining operations II
1909, as they did in 1908 and 1910
Unfortunately. the larger part ot
coal mining in Oklahoma can moi
properly be classed as coal mining
most of the coal being shot from
the solid in spite OF all that mas
! been said and written in condemna
| tion of the practice. Shooting from
| the solid involves less labor than
underwriting the coal, even by the
use of machines, and the fact that
the practice is permitted has reduced
the quantity OF machine-mined coal
In 1909 there were only seven mines
in the state in which the machines
were employed, and the quantity OF
machine-mined coal was 50,S12 short
tons, or 10 per cent Of the total. In
1908 81 1852 tons of coal were ma
chine-mined. In 1902. in Indian Ter
ritory, 119,195 tons were undercut by
machines.
In this connection It seems per
tlnent to call attention to the fact
that the percentage of deaths due to
explosions in the coal mines of Ok
lahoma is larger than the average
for other states. In a period of Ii
years, 20.l2 per cent OF the fatal ac-
cidents have been caused by explo-
sions and in 1909. according to the
report Of Peter Hanraty, the state
mine inspector. l6 per cent of the