The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-14
Total Production in Iowa for Year
1910 Was Valued at Over
Thirteen Million
Dollars.
AN OFFICIAL REPORT
Sixteen Thousand Mon Employed In
the State Who Worked 2ts'
Days of the
Year.

The total production OF coal in
Iowa in 1910 was 7,92S,120 short tons,
valued at $13,903,913, an increase of
170.S5s tons in quantity and of 1,110.-
2sb In value over the figures for the
preceding year, according to state
ment 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 Hi
nois field was principally in eliminat-
ing the competition of Illinois coal
from the comparatively local markets,
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 changed when
frefghts on Illinois coal were reduced
SO that the Iowa mines have been
placed at disadvantage. The statis-
tics for 1909 indicated an improve
ment in these conditions, for the pro-
duction was the largest in the history
OF the state. and prices were the high
est 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 lasted in Iowa about six weeks,
whereas IN Illinois 1t lasted practical
! ly six months.
Coal was mined in % counties of
Iowa In 1909 and 1910.
Sixteen Thousand Men Employed.
The Iowa coal mines gave employ
ment in 1910 to 1886 men. who work.
ed an average of 218 DAYS OF these
men 5000 were on strike during the
year, the average period of idleness
being "A days The average produc
| ton per man was 476 tons for the
4 year. Most of the mines of the state
are operated 8 hours day.
Has Great Coal Reserve.
/ Iowa probably ranks second among
the states west of Mississippi river ii
order of priority as a coal producer
At the census Of 1910 Iowa and Mis-
souri, were the only states west o.
the river in which any coal produc
ton was reported Missouri, how
4 ever, was credited with an output O
nearly 10000 tons, while Iowa's pro
duction was given at 400 tons. Iowa,
total coal production to the close o
1910 has amounted to nearly 1914 500
4 900 short tons, which. including tn,
estimated loss of half ton for ever.
ton recovered, represents an exhaus
tion of approximately 247.o0o ,00
short tons The original supply o
coal in Iowa. as estimated by NJ. R
Campbell. of the United States Gee
logical Survey, was 2e,16o, Noo, 90
short tons. from which 1t appears tina
at the close of 1910 over 2s,9oo, 900 ,oo'
short tons. or little over 90 pc
! cent Of the original supply, was still
] available.