The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-01-11
In the State and All Condi-
tons Except Prices Are
Much Improved.

CHARLESTON, Jan. 6-rThat the
coal output in West Virginia for the
calendar year 1911 will be about
one-half million net tons more than
in 1910 is the information coming
from the office of John LANG, chief
OF the department of mines. At
this time it is not possible to give
the exact tonnage for the reason
that exact figures for the month
will not be available for several
weeks, but a conservative estimate
for the output during the last month
makes it possible for the department
of mines to Ak the output for 1911
at n figure not less than 6O,5OO,O0O
net tons. The total output in West
Virginia, according to the official
figures available in the Office of Mr..
Laing was Go,099,299 net tons.
Contrary to expectations the coal
business was not as bad in this state
as the Indications earlier in tie
year indicated. Besides increasing
in output there was slight increase
in average price, based of 1000
pound tons, and averaged on run of
mine basis. In 1910 the average
price was about 81 cents at the
mine. For tile year just passed a
cent was added, making the aver
age price for 1911 90 cents, but a
goodly portion of this increase was
due to the increase in smokeless
tidewater coal during ire last two
months and to the good price that
prevailed througout the year. for egg
and lump coal. Much OF the run
of mine that went out OF the state
the operators, received at the mine
less than 70 cents, in fact 1t is re,
ported that coal was sold during the
year much below 20 cents.
The situation in coke is entirely
different. The falling off is esti,
mated at about one-half of the out,
put of 1910, when the output was
about 100000 tons. The price
too, went down from $1.S3 in. 1910
to $3.50 in 1911.
The closing days of the old year
left the operators in much better
spirits eliminating the freight rate
question: than they were at the be-
ginning OF the year 1910. The in
crease in coal shipped to tidewater
was a considerable help, and indi-
cations are strong for better prices
in other Goals.
One of the obstacles that has
proved insurmountabIe in previous
years was not a barrier against the
coal men in 1911, and that was in
cars and controversies with rail
roads about conditions. Except for
few instances, and minor in char
acter, there was an abundance OF
cars, and in addition to this there
was a better feeling existing be
tween the coal operators and the
railroads relative to conditions. The
railroads had prepared for an in
creased output with greater track
age and quicker working system OF
transporting the loaded and empty
cars.
In one branch of the mining in
dustry there was an increase thai
has not been pleasing. That was il
the number Of explosions-twc
against one for 1910. These two
cost the lives of 3S men agains
three for the previous year, but the
total number of fatal accidents, 32 )
In the mines in 1911, was less thar
in 1910, and the same is true o
non-fatal with 40 in 1911. Thu
two explosions that marred al
otherwise almost unbelievable rec
ord in coal mining were the OF
mine of the Davis Coal and COX
Company at Thomas. which cos
twenty lives. due to a gas and dus
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