Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-30
STRIKE IN MIDDLE
WEST CAUSES BIG
DEMAND FORCOAL
FROM new STATE
Figures for Central, South.
western and Rocky Noun
tain States Given Out By
U. s. Geological Survey.
CONDITIONS IMPROVE
IN THIS STATE GREATLY

According 60 Edward w. Parker.
coal statistlcian of the United states
sociological survey. the coal-minlng re-.
turns for 1911 Indicate that the out
put OF the year was no more and
possibly less than that OF 1910. In
spite % tho fact that most OF the
mines In the Mississippi valley and
the southwestern states were closed
down for practically six months dur
ing 1919.
The general feeling throughout this
region IN 1911 was that business was
exceptionally bad. Some idea Of the
conditions may be obtained from the
statement that Illinois alone ~ capa-
bic 81 producing. with her present
development and equipment, as much
coal M Ia now produced In the en-
tire interior region. Including Illinois.
Indiana. western Kentucky, Iowa.
Kansnn. Missouri. Arkansas. Okla
homa and Texas In other words.
Illinois without opening another minc
can produce fully ioO.0O0,O0S tons Of
coal The market for Illinois coal
can not absorb more than 10000. geo
tons. and In 1910. the year OF the
strike. Illinois alone produced f6.-
O00, eco tons. The effect OF these
conditions n shown in the lower
prices In 1871 compared with 1910
II IL estimated that the price OF Ilii-
nois coal was 2 cents "A ton less IN
1911 than In the previous year IN
indiana the price was s cents less,
and In the southwestern district u
was from 10 90 ~ cents less. II In
claimed that the cost OF mining has
been increased In all portions of the
region.
Competition With Fuel OH and Gas.
In the northern coal field 90 Mich
Ignn conditions In 1911 were about
the aame ~ in 1919. and the produc-
ton VIII not show much change when
compared with the output OF the pre-
eedlng year.
In Iowa. In addition 20 the general
depression IN the manufacturing in
due:ries, the dry weather during the
year occnsioned the closing Of many
tile burning kilnp. which reduced the
demand for coal from that source.
The railroad companies also reduced
their requirements. The car and Ia
( Dor supply IN iowa. as IN other Sec
I hINHN OI INC TtHlONNf war Nhfif'Aa wv
quate. In Kansas. Arkansas and
Oklahoma competition With fuel oil
and with gas continues TO he a con
trolling factor. and the competition
OF Goals from Colorado. Alabama.
l., Kentuckky and Illinois WAS stronger
IN 1871 than in 1919. The markets
/ for Arkansas and Oklahoma Toai
have narrowed down 90 points 50
close 10 the producing regions that
I the freight rates from the mines IN
other statcE make up for the cheaper
I cost OF mining IN those states. An
amclioratlng factor. NO far as Arkan-
snp II concerned, II that the Arkansas
smokcicss coal is beginning e. expand
. It's market for domestic trade. ana
In the northern markets. the public
Ii gradually beginning Ia realize that
tho southwestern states produce a
4 hlgh-carbon smokelcsr coal ranking
! (cHDecialIy for domestic uFe) in grade
and quality With that produced IN
West Virginia. Because Of this ex-
pansion In tho trade for Arkansas
smokeless coal. tho output Of the
state Increased In 1911 about 10 per
cent over 1910. The operators IN Ar
kansas ana oklahoma make vigorous
complaint against the high mining
rates which they are compelled 60
pay. II n claimed that the high
cost OF mining has SO restricted the
production that the working time
has been reduced 20 about so per
cent 81 the possible working days
during the year. and that the miners
are no better off. No far as annual
wages are concerned.
Not the least difficulty with which
the operators In Arkansas and OKLA
lhoma have 10 contend Ii the persist
ency OF the miners Ia shooting the
coal from the solid. This practice
Ia II claimed, has increased the pro-
porsFon OF Iow-grade stack coal from
20 per cent tfcrmerly IA large per-
oentaRe) a. 40 per cent. which Il
now a minimum. Shooting from this
solid not only reduces the percentage
OF salnhle coal. but by increasing tins
quantity OF fine coal and dust I'm
creaRes the liability 10 explosions.
Decreased prosfustisn IN the ttock,
Mountain Region.
The production ~ coal Ia most o.
1.-THE Rocky mountain states decreased
IN 1911 about 10 per cent. compaTos
with 1910 The reduction WAS du'
primarily. first. 10 an unusually mile
winter In i9iO-ii; second, drough
In the agricultural states west o
Mississlpni river. which caused iarg'
reduction In the demand for domeS
tic purposes IN south Dakota, Ne
hraska. Kansas. Texas and Colorado
third. a decreased consumption o
coal In locomotives on account of th'
reduced traffic on practically all tn
western railroads: and fourth. the re-
sumption Of coal mining operations u
the central ana southwestern state
which had hceu suspended durinl
tho strike OF 1910 Thls strike u
the middle west had created AN ab
normal demand upon the coal mine
: Of the Rocky mountain states. par
ticuiaFly IN Colorado and New MeN
ieo. The ear supply waa satlstaetof'
} throughout the year, an was also ~
labor situation. except IN tho diN'fic
! north AZ Denver. In Iioulder county
; wherc q strike has been In progreh
since April !, 1910. The mines =