The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-23
6. W. Parker, Statistician of Geo.
logical Survey, Gives Sur-
prising Figures
COAL BAR0NS NOT ROBBERS

Philadelphia, IA, Ocl., -o.--Ihc all'
thracite coal operator has hard tima
making even a slender profit on his
Investment; the popular idea that he
simply sits back and guides a golden
stream into his Golfers is delnsion
according to Edward V. Barker, sta =
tsdcian Of the United States Geolog-
,cal Survey And the bituminous coal
p,rator makes even less money. Mr..
Parker said IN his address today be-
fore The AMERICAN Mining Congress In
session here.
Therefore. Mr.. Parker added. II any
one is robbing the people of the price
# coal, the robber Is not the sO-called
coal 9aIon, but somebody else. In
.lct, he said, the coal mining industry
ir almost demoralized H. the United
states and the dividing line between
profit and loss is very faint. Citing
statistics to uphold his contention, Mr..
Parker said, In part
There is a somewhat general I'M
preston that the mining OF coal, both
anthracite and bituminous, Is a highly
lucrative vocation and that the prin-
cipal occupation Of the so-caled coai
larons is TO look pleasant as the gold
Oh stream flows into their Golfers. ]
ycut.re TO state. taking the industry
as "a whole, that there are Few lines Of
Industrial endeavor where during the
last ten years there have been smaller
returns for the capitals invested and
tor tho energy. mental and manual,
tuat has been put into it, than in the
business OF coal mining
Expenses Are Heavy
The United States census report
.or 1909, tn, oaly recent official statis-
ties relative to cost and value avail
ooir, shows that the value Of the
Pennsylvania anthracite produced in
that year was $14s,s57.sS4. The total
bross expenses amounted 10 Si39ll0,-
i44, from which should be deducted
$iS6is44 made UP from charges q"
miners for explosives. oil and black
smithine, making the net expenses
olSL2i5,t0o.
The total production IN 1909
amounted to 72,215,27s long tons, so
That ia" average value per ton for
ihc output In that year was S2.06 the
a}yragC cost per ton was S1.S6; and
iIc net returns Oh the operations for
The year were only an av-
crosu OF twenty cents per ton This
as first glance looks like a fair re-
'1rm but attention must be called to
the fact that the census figures of
cost make no allowance for interest
Of capital invested or borrowed. and
10 oltostting charges for amortization
or depreciation.
According to the returns of the Bu-
''uu ot the Census. the entire capital
invested In anthracite mining in 1909
VAS sac, 100000. II on this capitaliza-
.lon an allowance Of 4 per cent he
made for Interest. the net returns for
lhr year amounted I'm round numbers
'o $As44,O00. II new breakers and
'Intr equipment are charged into op-
'Taung expenses no allowance need be
made FOR depreciation. but surely the
'N"austion of from 75.OO0.OO0 To. S0,-
'pV'oV5 tons from the reserves every
ear should have some amortization
'narged against il ana If five cents a
ION he allowed, the margin of S4,s00.-
"'o is practically wiped out. At least
u may be said from the operators
-'ahdpoint there may have been some
reason FOR the recent advances in the
ir'ee OF anthracite the effect of which
nave felt rs keenly AS any other con-
Sumer OF anthracite.
Less Profit in Soft Coal
me figures covering the cost and
'"'ue or b'tuminous coal show even
moro striking COMPARISONS. The total
'd'ue OF the bituminous production in
we United States in 1909, according
~ 'he Bureau of the Census was si01,-
1910 and the mining expenses OF
''ouuclhx this value. including salar-
,eS OF officers. was s37s,t5s 2s2. From
''.e lisures it appears that rs per cent
.ne total cost was scent i'm wages.
Inc total capital invested In the
luminous coal mines of the United
S''es IN 1909 was. according TO the
s' Se""nS Bureau. in round numbers.
,VO'VVV'Voo. The difference between
'"t value of the nrod,,c, o,,l A.. -.