Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-08-23
STATE FURNISHES
P|TTSDURG ITS GAS
Big Pennsylvania Town Depends
Solely On the Mountain State
For Its Supply Of Fuel

All efforts made to place a tax on
all the natural gas taken out Of West
Virginia and thus, in way. conserve
the best interests Of the State, have
50 far failed and year otter year the
greatest Industrial strength Of West
Virginia, in that her natural gas is
an inducement to industries 10 locate
within her borders, is being slowly
but surely absorbed n this State
had the power to keep her gas sup
ply at home or even 10 tax all that
was taken away It would soon be
the greatest and wealthlest State in
the Union outside Of New Yorkbut
there is none.
1t is a well known fact that West
Virginia supplies to the city OF Pitts
burg almost all of It's natural gas.
The Geographical Survey states that
Pittsburg is the largest fuel con
sumer in the world and of the fuel
consumed in that city, natural gas
comprises a very large portion. Thus
IT appears that West Virginia is the
principal contributor of fuel to the
greatest industrial center in the
country
The Pittsburg district of Pennsyl-
vania is not only. according to the Ge-
ographical Survey, the largest con
sumo of fuel in the world, but in the
magnitude OF coal traffic is also pre-
eminent.
In population Pittsburg ranks fifth
among the cite OF the United States
having as Greater Pittsburg" only
about one sixth that of Greater New
York, but in the consumption Of coal
alone Pittsburg nearly equals that
of the largest city n the country. 1t
Is estimated tho accurate data being
ayailable), that Greater New York
consumes between 100000 and 20
100000 short tons of coal annually,
The Pittsburg district in 1912. ac.
cording to Edward w Parker, Of the
United States Geological Survey, con
sumed 17721,7S3 tons of coal and
about 100000 tons of coke. or to-
tai of about 22,700,000 short tons over
10 per cent more than all the Dor
roughs iof Greater New York More
over, pittsburg also consumes mil
lions of cubic feet Of natural gas
The total quantity of coal sent to
New York harbor ports for local con
sumption, for bunker trade. and for
ransshipment to coastwise and fer
eign ports. is between $4,000. 900 end
100000 short tons. In 1912 the to-
tai coal business in the Pittsburg dis
triet, including local consumption anil
shipments east and west, amounted
to 59,17O,179 short tons. The coke
used and hauled was approximately
100000 tons, making a toal Of
about 100000 tons, or nearly twice
as much as the coal going TO New
York harbor.
Coal Shipments Large.
The quantity of coal shipped by
rail and water to Pittsburg and
through Pittsburg to points west in
1912 was 43,SOl134 short tols, an
increase Of 416O,226 tons over 1911.
All of this increase was in rail ship
ments, as those by water fell off
steady, about 100000 tons The ship
ments to Pittsburg were by raj, T.
rs, $50 and by water 9,994,3SS tons.
The shipments 10 points west OF Pitts
burg were, by rail 24,0S6,001 tons and
by water 1,993,350 tons, The ship.
ments from the Pitsburg district to
eastern points, all rail, which do OF
go through the city, amounted in 1872
to 15.349,O45 tons. against 1S.l69,S66
tons in 1911.