The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-01-09
Bitunlinous Coal
Record Shattered
Trade Has Enjoyed Most Prospe:
Gus Year Experienced For
Possibly a Decade

Ou4CdSO, LII, cduudIy ..
ords for the production of btu
minous coal were shattered in
1913. In a review of the years
situation the Coal Trade Review
will say that the bituminous trade
has enjoyed the most prosper
GUS year that it has experienced
probably in a decade.
"We close the year 1913 with
the satisfaction Of having record
ed the largest tonnage in the his
tory of the trade the review
will say. ''It has frequently hap
pened that the records have been
broken in the production Of coal,
but in the last 12 months it is
gratifying to state better results
have had in financial way, and
altogether the trade has enjoyed
the most prosperous year that
it has experienced for possibly a
decade. Even before the financial
storm broke in 1917 steam coal
producers felt the results Of
strong competition and excessive
output, and some two OF three
years when other lines of trade
were at top-notch We're by no
means satisfactory to the bitumi-
nous interests. There has there
fore, been long period since so
successful year as 1913 was en-
joyed.
''It seems well assured that til
bituminous tonnage will maintain
it's well established pace of some
10 per cent annual increase, and
this means that the soft coal to-
tai for the year will be about 485.-
600 600 tons. Anthracite shows
a gain Of course, over 1912, since
last year was marked by a per-
iod Of suspension, but shows no
gain over 1911, which remains
the banner year of the industry.
The hard coal total will be 90,-
600, 600 net tons. In the aggregate
the industry as a whole establish
ed new tonnage level at $751;
100000 tons and output has now
SO far gone beyond the half
billion mark that thoughts may
well be turned toward the possi-
bilities Of producing billion
tons some f.W years hence.
''The future of the trade de-
pends largely, of course upon the
trend of general business, and
yet we must not say that this
factor is a major circumstance,
for the use Of coal have increased
SO numerously and the steady, all
the-year-around requirements are
so great that there probably new
er will be again such acute cur
tailment of tonnage from time to
time as we have seen in the past.
So far as the situation can now
be judged, iron and steel will
pursue an upward course during
1914; and this circumstance mean
that other lines will benefit in
proportion and in harmony there
with. Should this be the case
we shall in, few months more
find that our supply and available
labor are factors limiting the out
put, and with demand in excess
Of the supply again, even though
narrowly, the coal producer will
continue to hold the advantage
GUS position that he has recently
enjoyed.
'sThe wage settlement looms up
as disturbing factor for 1914,
and in advance no one can tell
what the developments will be. It
may be the old story of discus
sion and compromise, and that
will mean a higher price for coal,
as matter Of course. In brief
we might say in concluding this
portion Of our review, as in ter
minating the bituminous section
last year, that old-time conditi-
ons seem to have vanished per-
manently and the trade is now ca
q much higher and better price
level.
The increased cost of produc-
ton has been q feature with the
anthracite companies, and it is
probable that this circumst stance
win be reflected IN higher
ptice for some portion of the
tonnage, ct least in the near fn-
sture,
NoNYlfoU 4.l
BY oowARDs
The well known rule of repn-
/ table neWsp persF F8to pay 10 at-