Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-27
Ignite COAL MAY
solve PROBLEM
STATE ANTHRACITE
WILL NOT GO ANY LOWER
IN PRICE,
People Eagerly Awaiting Manufac.
ture Of 6ricquettes that Cost Of
Fuel MAY Be Lessened.

A~S~e~se>s~~Ss~e~
Of briquettes so that they may be
shipped to other states. The reason
is evident when one considers the
reports the experts II the employ OF
the federal geological survey upon
the cont Of anthracite coal. Ignite
briquettes may, he able to be used in
it's stead, and thereby reduce the cost
of living, on this commodity at least.
Anthracite coal was at one time an
important factor in blast-furnace
practice, but for this purpose it has
been almost entirely supplanted by
coke made from bituminous coal, &C.
cording to E. w. Parker. coal stats
tician of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, in an advance chapter
from Mineral Resources for 1910"
just issued The principle future de-
mand for anthracite will be restrict
ed largely to domestic trade, for
which the sizes known as furnace,
egg, stove. chestnut, and pea are re-
quired.
The breaking down of the lump
coal, which was formerly market
able product, for the preparation OF
the domestic sizes, results in an in
creased proportion of the small or
undesirable sizes, all of which are
sold at less than the cost of produc.
tion. The proportion of these small
sizes has increased from e31 per cent
in 1879 OTTO Al 6 per cent in 1910 while
the proportion OF sizes larger than
pea coal, or what may be termed the
profitable sizes, has decreased from
II to 58.4 per cent. The price Of
coal at the mines in 1910
$2.13 per long ton. All the
profits on the mining operations must
be obtained from the prepared de-
nestle sizes, for the revenue obtained
from the smaller sizes which are
sold largelv in competition with b.
luminous C...,. for steaming purposes,
serves ou;y t. reduce the cost of the
domestic sizes. The conditions und-
or which the anthracite mines are
operated. says Mr.. Parker, the great
or depths to which the workings are
carried, the consequent inceased OK.
pense of mining, and the increased
cost of labor all contribute to make
fuel more and more lux
Try. No hope is held out to the con-
sumner that anthracite will in the
'uture be sold at lower prices than
hose which prevail today: On the
,ther hand, there is every reason IT,
believe that prices must advance IN
with the increasing cost
# production. 1t is only by rel 'on
II economical administration that
'rices are not higher than they are.
During recent years the Anthracite
operators have adopted the policy Ut /
making an allowance of so cents per |
on from circular prices for domestic |
oal purchased in April of each year,
With an advance of 10 cents fer each
ucceeding month until tue schedule
rices are restored in September.
his has had more salutaTy effect
I steadying the anthracite trade than
ny other action taken by those con.
rolling the anthracite industry. It's
urpose is to encourage the purchase
+ coal in the spring aud early sum-
Ter, making the cellars of the con-
lmers the storage places to the ex.
mt Of millions Of tons, for the fol.
wing winter, and at the same time
, cause the mines to be operated
lore regularly, thus giving more
eady employment to employees
lroughout the year.