The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-01
COAL MINING IN SOUTHERN STATES
Increased Production in Maryland, vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Alabama, and
Tennessee

y
Increased Production in Maryland, vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Alabama, and
Tennessee.
The coal production of 1913 in Mary
land, Virginia. West Virginia, and the
southern Appalachian field showed a
normal increase over 1912, according to
advance estimates by Edward, w. Par
ker, OF the United States Geological Sur
vey.
The production in Maryland was not
materially different from that of the
preceding year, approximating 100000
short tons. and as the "big vein" Of
Maryland is approaching exhaustion in
mnay OF the larger operations, any ma
terial increase in the output of the
state is not to be expected, although
there still remain important resources
OF coal in the lower and thinner beds.
In Virginia and in West Virginia the
output of coal in 1913 was from five
to 10 per cent. in excess of that in 1912.
Labor troubles in the Cabin Creek and
Paint Creek districts of the Kanawha
field We're settled during the early part
of the year and resulted in the securing
OF foothold by the labor organizations
in some of the coal mining districts of
the southern part of the state. Dur
ing the spring, in addition to the la
Dor difficulties, shipments to the West
were cut off to some extent by disas-
trous floods in the Ohio valley region
The supply of labor in West Virginia,
as in Pennsylvania, was not equal to
the demand, condition which tended
to restrict the production so that at
times the railroads were in position
to handle considerably larger tonnages
than the mines were able to furnish.
During the first half of the year the
demand for coke was insistent and spot
prices were good, but the outp1t was
somewhat restricted by the shortage in
labor
Increase in Southern Appalachian Fields.
In Alabama and Tennessee the produc-
ton of coal was from three to five per
cent. greater in 1913 than in 1912 and
was somewhat evenly distributed
throughout the entire year. Market
conditions showed some improvement in
1913 over 1912. A number of companies
III AldDduih were tOlccu IHlo ltCtiNtI-
ships in 1912, but were able to have the
receivership dissolved during 1913. Sew
eral new mines We're opened in that state
and have been furnishing gradually
increased output since the spring OF
1918. Other mines have added improve
ments and extended their workings TO
provide for an increased tonnage. An
encouraging feature reported by some
of the mining companies is a better la
Dor supply than is reported from some
of the other states, miners having been
recruited from other lines of industrial
pursuit. The output per man and the
efficiency of the employees have shown
an increasing tendency because of i'm
proved sanitary and living conditions,
and because of increased wages put in
force last February. The wages for min
ing and for mine labor which have pre-
vailed during 1913 are said to be high
er than ever before in the history Of
coal mining in Alabama. The slight in
crease in the output of coal in both Ala
bama and Tennessee appears to be at
tributable TO the more satisfactory la
Dor conditions and to better supply OF
railroad cars than existed in 1912. An
increased demand for bunker coal in the
Gulf trade also took a part of the in
creased production. The demand for do
nestle and steam Goals was. if anything,
slightly less than in 1912. The produe
ton of coal in eastern kentucky showed
i material increase over that of 1912.