The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-01-04
An Interesting Review of the
Coal Industry by Geo
logical Survey.

WASHINGTON. D. C. Dec. 20
West Virginia, which In 1910, held
second place among the states OF the
Union in the matter Of coal produc-
ton, evidently holds the same rank
in 1911, although the accurate fg-
ures have not yet been made public
by the Geological Survey.
Figures given out today. however,
indicate that the coal production OF
West Virginia for 1911 in spite of an
favorable conditions and depression
in the coal business was approximately
equal to the production Of the state
in 1910. Illinois Is West virsinin's
closest rival for second place and
while no figures have been given out
showing the coal production Of Illinois
in 1911, ii is believed from the general
conditions prevailing in that state that
the production there IN 1911 did not
materially, II any. exceed that of
1910. when it was far behind West
Virginia.
The trade conditions in West vir-
ginia have been far from satisfactory
during the last year and prices have
apparently been far from profitable.
This, however, did not prevent the pro-
duction OF about the same quantity of
coal as in the previous year.
The production Of the Appalachian
coal fields in 1911 is discussed in a
statement given to the press by Ed
ward w. Parker, Of the United states
Geological Survey, Mr.. Parker states
that in general the condition OF the
coal-mining industry in 1911 was far
from prosperous owing to over-pro-
duction and depressed prices.
The Appalachian region as the prin-
cipal source OF coking Goals was more
directly Influenced by the depression
in the iron trade in 1911 than some of
the other coal-minlnE districts, In
some of the cokIng districts many of
the ovens were shut down throughout
the year The production Of coke nj
the Connellsvllle district decreased
about fifteen per cent, and the other
coking districts will show a still larger
falling off. There was also a lighter
demand from the railroads, and as
the supply Of both cars and labor was
there was naturally an abil-
ity to produce and transport the coal
considerably in excess of the ability Of
the market to absorb 1t. 1t is esti-I
mated that the production of blum
inous coal in Pennsylvania in 1911 de-
creased about three per cent, with a
considerably larger decline in value.
In West Virginia the production was
approximately the same as in 1910.
During the first six months Of the year
the production fell short probably a.
600, 900 tons as compared with the last
six months OF 1910. hut after the first
OF July there was some Improvement
in the business, although prices were
still depressed,
Slight Change In West Virginia.
In the opinion of Mr.. John Laing.
chief Of the West Virginia Department
of Mines, the states output of the
year was 54,O5O, 900 long tons, or about
6o,5oO,OOO short tons, compared with
81 gu 900 short tons in 1910. Some
operators estimate that the production
OF the state will show an increase Of
about five per cent over that OF the
year. Mr.. Laing estimates
that the production OF coke in West
Virginia in 1911 was not more than
half as much as In 1910. This was part
ly made up, however, by the fact that a
large amount of West Virginia coal is
being shipped to by-product coke
ovens in other states. For several
years prior to 1911 the labo supply in
West Virginia had not been sufficient
for the requirements. but this was not
the case in 1911. There were no seri-
Gus Interruptions to business owing to
labor troubles, the few Instances OF dis
affection which developed having
been settled satisfactorily within a
few hours after the strikes began,
and the usual complaints of car
shortage and the failure on the part
of the railroads to handle the traffic
were not made. Several attempts