The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-08-22
COAL OUTPUT IS
RECORD BREAKER
CKLAHOMA'S COAL OUTPUT
FOR NINETEEN TWELVE is
LARGER THAN EVER BEFORE.

The total production of coal in Ok
lahoma in 1912, according to +. w.
Parker, Of the United States GeoloS-
ical Survey was 3,675,41S short tons
| having a value at the mines of ST.
| SCI 331. These statistics have been
compiled in cooperation with the state
! geological survey.
The coal areas of Oklahoma be-
Gong to the western interior coal
field. They lie entirely in the east
ern and northeastern parts of the
state. Forming the connection be-
tween the Kansas fields on the north
and the Arkansas fields on the east
The principal developments are in
the southern portion of the field, in
what was formerly the Choctaw ma
ton of the Indian Territory and IS
now included within Coal. Haskell.
Latimer and Pittsburg counties. The
total area underlain by workable
coal is estimoted at 10000 square
miles. The Goals, of which there are
ten or more beds range from a me-
dium grade to a high grade bitumi-
nous, some of the latter approaching
semi-anthracite. Some Of the high.
err grades have coking qualities, but
efforts to make coke in the several
| hundred beehive ovens constructed
for that purpose have not been con-
spicuously successful.
Diminished production of petroleum
and natural gas in the Mid Continent
field is reflected in increased pro-
duction of coal in Oklahoma in 1912
| and a substantial advice in prices.
The quantity of coal produced in
creased from 3,O74242 short tons.
valued at Sc. 291. 494. in 1911 to g.
675. AIS tons. valued at $7,S67,391 in
1912. The record of 1912 exceeded
that of the previous maximum out
put lin 1900 by nearly $4,000 tons.
Compared with 1911, it showed a gain
of col .176 short tons or 1876 per
cent in quantity and of 81 575. S37,
or 25 per cent in value. Tie aver
age price per ton advanced from
SO. .05 to $2.14. The year 1912 was
the first in a decade to encourage
the coal mine operators of Oklahoma
and the other southwestern states.
For ten years the industry in those
states had been kept practically at a
standstill the output OF 1911 being
Just about the average for the de-
cade ended in that year. The pro-
dution in 1912 exceeded that average
by nearly 20 per ent. The only as
signable reason for the increased act
ivity in 1912 appears to be, as al
readyy stated, the diminuton in the
supply of natural gas and fuel oil in
the markets tributary to Oklahoma
coal. Competition with coal from
other states, particularly Colorado
and New Mexico, continues keen.
In 1912 the average number of days
worked in Oklahoma was ia, the
largest number in recent years, eX
cept during the boom period in 1907
The general average of working time
among the bituminous mines in l9l-
was 223 days. The number of mel
employed in the oal mines of Okla
homa in 1912 was S,7S5. In 1911
there were $3.50 men employed fol
an average of 156 days. The aver
age production per man in 1912 was
a.. tons for the year and "a tons
for each working day, against 3oC
tons and PA tons, respectively. IL
1911.
In 1912, out of total of S,675. AIS
tons produced BIS. ASS tons ol
, S6.4 per cent, was shot off the solid
, The quantity mined by machines Ii
relatively small, amounting to 259.
719 tons. or IL per cent of the tota
IN 1912.
: The death rate in Oklahoma II
1 1912 wa unusually high owing prin'
cipally to an explosion of gas in the
f San Bois mine, at McCutcheon, OF
3 March %. which resulted in the loss
ready stated, the diminution in th'
r of 73 lives. According to the United
2 States bureau of mines the tota
e. number of fatal accidents wa
80. all of them underground
r Seventy-seven were due to gas ant
dust explosions, II to mine fires an'
. : to falls of roof and coal. The deatl
l rate per thousand was 11.27, anC
there were 37125 tons of coal mine'
T. for each life lost.
The number Of men made Idle b!
r strikes and suspensions in 1912 wa
SEQ for an average of IA days. Tit
., total idle time from these causes wa
equivalent to O.S per cent of th'
= time worked.
Bad Fire at Sherman.