Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-07-04
(The Manufacturers Record.)


Ii all the coal mined in West Vir-
ginia In 1913 had been converted in
the State into coke by the by-product
oven process at the average price Ii
1912 for that kind Of coke, the yield
to West Virginia would have been
close to $300,00O.O0O instead OF $751;
100000. This is one OF the suggestion
IN the interesting developments in
the States coal-mining industry last
year. For the first time in it's history
1t mined more than 100000 tons,
the actual quantity being 1905 1882
tons, and that quantity was only 172,-
588 tons less than the total output CT
the United States in 1880. For the
first time in ten years the average
value OF the coal per ton was greater
than 81, the total value being ST.
872,165. There was an increase in
the State in 1913 over 1912 Of 4,522,-
295 tons, or at the rate Of 6.3 per
cent, In quantity, and Of $9,079, 931,
VI DIT lne ldLc VI ITO pei CclI., Ill
value. or the total output of coal
only 4,034,251 tons were used in the
State in making coke, although West
Virginia Is in the center Of the field
In which is rs per cent. Of the coal
best adaptable to making coke for
the iron industry, but 100000 tons
of West Virginia coal we're made in
to coke in other States. Thus H.
834 PSI tons, or 1877 per Gen., Of the
States 1913 production Of ccal were
converted into 7,75O.O0O tons Of coke,
OF the total output Of coke in the
country. AS late as 1887 the whole
country was making less coke than
the quantity made from West Vir-
ginia coal in 1913. What Of the next
twenty-six years and the part that
toke-making industry?
It has been only tWenty-One years
since the beginning Of coke making
in by-product ovens in this country,
with a plant Of twelve ovens turn
ing out 1850 tons. In 1893 such coke
was but one-tenth Of l per cent. Of
the total output OF 9,477,5SO tons in
the United States. In 1913 the 12:-
TATTOO tons Of by-product coke made
was 275 per cent of the total out
put or 46,311,369 tons,and the value
Of all coke produced in 1913 was
mare than seven times as great as in
1893. The experience Of twenty-ohe
years has demonstrated not only that
the by-product oven makes more coke
than the old style beehive plants n
proportion to the amount Of coal US
ed, but that the by-products are
worth more than the coal at the
mine. By-product ovens in 1912
made 11,115,16 tons Of coke, valued
at $42,632,93O, from 14,767,543 tons
Of coke, valued $35,569,464 at the
ovens. There we're yielded however,
in addition 54,491 ,248O00 cubic feet
Of gas, valued at s4,65O,517; 43,144.
OLA pounds Of anhydrous ammonia,
valued / at s4,114,449; 95,e75,545
pounds Of ammonia, sulphate or re-
duced to equivalent in sulphate,
valued at $3,649,144; 94,3O6,583 gal
Ions of ammonia liquor valued at
$735,12O, and other derivatives valu-
ed at $610,552-a total Of $16,070,-
682. That was an average Of $1.0S
for every ton Of coal used in the by
product ovens.
If the 71,3OS,9S2 tons Of West Vir-
ginia coal had been SO consumed in
1913, the by-products would have had
a value Of $77,O13,7OO at the prices
for such in 1912. The coal would
have yielded, ON an average, IS 3
tons Of coke for every 100 tons used
or 53,695,663 tons Of coke. At the