The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-12
AN ENORMOUS
Pile OF COAL
5a4,466,5s0 Tons, Worth $685..
6O6,O71 Produced Last Year

The production of coal in 1912
reached the great total of 534,466,5S0
short tens, valued at the mines at
see5 6O6.07l, according to a statement
nv Edward w. Parker, coal statisti-
clan. Just issued by the United States
Geological Survey.
This year the report on the coal in
dustry of the United States begins the
fourth Cecade in which coal statistics
have been published annually by the
ceolosical Survey. In 1882, the first
vear of this period, the total coal pro-
ductioa of the United States had
reached what was then considered
about high-water mark-lOS, 55l, 1S9
short tons. In 1912 the production of
Unanimous coal alone In the state of
Pennsylvania exceeded that figure by
nearly 90 per cent and the combined
product!on of the United States in
1882. The total coal production of the
United states was poor second
among the coal producing countries
If the world, Great Britain having I'm
output exceeding that Of this country
nv nearly 40 per cent. The United
states supplanted Great Britain as
the premier al-producng country
in 1899 and I'm 1912 it was as far ahead
of Great Britain as that country was
ahead of the United States i'm 1882.
The United States at present is con-
.ributiug 40 per cent og the worlds
supply Of coal and Is consuming over
90 per cent of it's own production,
All Records Broken in 1912.
In 1912 the production of coal i'm the
United states not only surpassed all
previous tonnage records. but the
average value per ton exceeded that
of any normal year in the 33 years FOR
which statistics are available. There
has been only one year when prices
generally were higher than IN 1912.
and that was 1903 the year of the fuel
famine.
The gain i'm output in 1912 over
1911 was 3S,095, i54 short tons and the
increase in value was $69,OI0.S6O. The
production of bituminous coal increas-
ed from 4O5, 907 ,059 short tone to 49,
i0i.9S2 tons, "A gain If 4,191,923 tons
with an increase of 500, 607 ,626 in val
ne The decreased production of an
thracite, amounting To 6,102 469 shor,
tons, was due entirly to the suspen-
sion of mining in April and May, when
practically the entire region was idle.
The factors which contributed To the
increased output of bitumlnous coal
We're % the revival in the iron and
steel industry, which stimulated pro-
duction in the eastern states, the coal
made into coke showing, alone, an in
crease of nearly 100000 tons; CD
bumper crops of grain and other agri-
cultural products, which gave pros
perity &c the farming communities of
the middle west: CD decreasing sup
plies of natural gas and fuel oil in
the Mid Continent field and their con-
sequent lessened competition with coal
from The southwestern states; ca in
creased consumption by railroads and |
in nearly all lines of manufacturing
ca activity in the mining and smelt-
ing in the precious and semi precious
metals in the Rocky Mountain and
Pacific states. These factors cOmbn-
ed made the year 1912 one of the rath-
or rare prosperous years i'm the min
ing OF luminous coal.
Increased Output in Fl States.
OF the p states in which coal min
ing may be considered To Toe conduct
ed on a commercial basis, there were
= in which the output of 1912 showed
an Increase over 1911, and i'm all but
two OF the important states the in
crease in value was greater than the
increase i'm tonnage.
In the production of bituminous Goa.
pennsylvania in 1912 showed an in
crease of l7,30i,23l short tons. West /;
Nireinia's increase in 1912 was G.955.
100 tons. Illinois increased its pro-
dnction by G,2O6,loS tons. Ohio by b.
"Shil tons. Kentucky by 2,44O,81S
Tons, Indiana by l,0Si363 tons. Ala
pama by l,O79.l79 tons. Virginia by |
'SLS'l tons, Colorado by s20.4i1 tons.
ana Kansas by S07.454 tons