Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-11-29
COAL EXPORTS BIG.
important Factor In Trade Of the
United States.
Product Has Taken Leading Place In
Nations Commercial Advance.
ment Within Last Twenty Years
Canada Best Customer.

Washington.--Coal is rapidly be-
coming an important factor In the ex-
port trade OF the United States. The
value Of the coal sent to foreign coun-
tries last ear was $50 500. 600, against
81. 200. 900 In 1902 and $S.333.000 In
1892, having thus increased over 500
per cent In the last twenty years and
$50 per cent in the last decade.
Even these larger figures Of more
than $50.000.000 worth Of coal sent to
foreign countries in the fiscal year
1912 do not include the value OF that
passing GU. OF the country In the form
of bunker" or fuel coal, laden on YES
sells engaged in the foreign trade,
which aggregated nearly $23.000.oOO
In value. making total Of more than
So, 000,0 900 as the value OF the coal
passing out of the United States IN
the fiscal year 1912. The quantity
sent to foreign countries in 1912 was.
according to figures compiled by the
statistical division OF the bureau OF
foreign and domestic commerce, IT,
SOC. 900 tons. against 100000 In 1907
and 100000 in 1892.
Thus the quantity exported in 1912
10 seven times as much as in 1892 and
the value more than six times -
much In 1912 as In 1892.
Coke exports also show decided
growth. the value in 1892 having been
but $4,000 and in 1912 practically
$4,000, 1000. A comparison of the guam
tity and value of coal placed for fuel
purposes on board vessels engaged IN
foreign trade in 1912 can only be
made with comparatively recent years,
the figures Of bunker coal laden YES
sells in 1912 being 7,093.212 tons, val
ued at $22,802.S76, against 6.003,794
tons, valued at 49,. hits in the fis-
cal year of 1909. the earliest date for
which complete figures Of bunker coal
movements are available.
The fact that the coal sent to for
eign countries has increased $50 per
cent, both in quantity and value. dur
ing the last ten years. that the total
value Of exports to foreign countries
plus the value of that leaving the
country as bunker coal now aggre.
gates more than $4,000, 900 suggests
that the total value of the coal pass
ing out of the United States In sin
gle year will soon reach the hundred
million dollar line.
The movement Of coal out OF the
United States is confined to compare
lively few countries. OF the 2,97s. 102
tons of anthracite coal exported IN
the fiscal year 1912 all except 56,571
tons went to Canada, and Of the a.
709,S47 tons of bituminous coal ex
ported in that year 10,671.9s2 tons
went to Canada. 1,121,5so tons tc
Cuba. G92,534 tons to other West In
dies and Bermuda, 511,802 tons tc
Panama. 344,712 tons to Mexico and
less than 100000 tons to all Other
countries.
While the total exports Of coal tc
other parts Of the world Is at the
present time small. the growth in the
movements to certain European and
South American countries has beer
rapid. The quantity of bituminoui
coal exported to Italy has grown from
1854 tons in 1907 to 276,467 tons II
1912; to France. from 4.037 tons II
1907 to 43,222 tons in 1912: to Argen
tina, from 9.S27 tons in 1907 to 1856.
1872 tons in 1912: to Brazil. from 1871
tons In 1907 to 307.125 tons IN 1912
and to French territory in Africa
from 500 tons in 1907 to 1O2,4ss toni
In 1912. The total exports Of btu
minous coal to all Europe grew from
1882 tons in 1907 to 404,905 tons II
1912, and to South America. from 65.
9oe tons In 1907 to 5S0,161 tons In 1912