The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-07-08
Illinois an object-Iesson.

b q
y Illinois an object-Lesson.
! A comparison of these prices with
these obtained; in some Of the. other.
important coal-producing states plac.
es West Virginia in an unfavorable
light! Illinois. which until displaced
by West Virginia In 1909. was second
On rank OF output, supplies fuel 10
important manufacturing COMMUNE
ties within its borders or in the i'm
mediate adjacent territory. Although
the grade OF its product is consider
ably below that of West virgfnia,s,
the average price for Illinois coal
has ranged from $1.O5 to $1.14
short ton, about 20 per cent higher
than that obtained for West Virginia
coal. Comparisons with Alabama are
still more striking. In It's important
iron industry Alabama has a local
outlet for the most OF its coal. Dur
ing the last eight years the average
price has ranged from $1.19 in 1909
to $1.@ in 1905, more than 30 per
cent better than West Virginia prices.
In It's hIgh7grade. cheaplys mined,
low -priced fuel West Virginia offers
advantages to the Development Of
manufactures that should place T.
among the leading, manufacturing
states. AS matter Of fact, how
aser. It stands twenty ninth. Z Il <.
Production In f911 Was Normal
West Virginia, like the other coal
pproducinE states outside of the Mis-
sissippi valley region. printed by the
strike in that region in 1910. Its
production gained nearly 10000. 900
tons over 190e.fi with an increase in
value of more than $1,000. 900. With
uninterrupted work lna, the 20 Their,
STATES in 1911 the decrease in the pro
duction of West Virginia was to be
expected. The decrease Il 1889. 4S9i
tons) was relatively small, hawever,
and the production, compared with,
the years preceding 1910. shows a.
substantial increase. In the 40 years
since West Virginia became a seper-
ate state there have been only six
years in which comparison with he
preceding year was indicated by the
minus sign They were 1869, 1876.
IISS1, 1895, 1908 and 19I1-only three
in the last 80 years. The decrease
in 1911 was merely a return to nor
NAL conditions.
The number of men employed in
the coal mines of West Virginia in
1911 was Sc $50, who worked an aver
age of 221I days. The average pro-
ductlon' per man was SOC short tons
for the year and 4.OS tons for each
working day.
| PraIsoworthy Mining Methods.
In one respect the record OF West
Virginias coal production in u911|
stands out as shining light-that Is
in the exceptionally low percentage
of coal shot off the solid. The rel
turns to the geological survey show
that practically 96 per cent of the
output was properly mined. either by
| hand or by the use of machines: for
! -, G2g,S00 tons the mining methods
in practice were not reported, and
the amout shot off the solid was only
626,995 short tons. or little more
than per cent. This is a record Of
which the miners, the operators, and
tn mine-inspection service of the
state depaprtpment Of mines may we'll
he proud. If the methods of mar
&etlng and consuming West Virgln-
ia coal were as trustworthy as the
methods employed in its production
the mountain state would hold an en-
virble position in Industrial progress.