St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-01-09

Estimates Of the coal production In
Alabama for 1914 varied between:
|12.5o.0o0 and Is, 100000 short tons.
compared with 17.67s.522 tons in
1913. In addition to the decrease
due to the decentralization in the iron
trade. the disturbed situation in Mexi-
co resulted in the loss of some mark
ct for Alabama coke. The markets
for Alabama coal we're affected by the
low price of petroleum In the South
western States; by increased water
power developments; by the compe-
tition of coal from ekntuckey and
Illinois in the markets Of Louisiana
and Mississippi which are normally
supplied by Alabama; and by the
smaller bunker trade which suffered
because of the cutting OF of exports
of cotton after the declaration of war
in Europe. On account Of the keen
competition which developed as re-
suit of the decreased demand, prices
were demoralized, but up to the close
of the year there had not been any
decrease in wages.
Tennessee-In some parts of Ten
nessee the decrease in coal produc-
ton during 1914 was between IS and
SO per cent, but it is estimated that
for the entire State the loss was
about 20 per cent and that the output
was less than 100000 short tons,
compared with 6.903,784 tons in
1913. In this State the industry was
somewhat affected by the decrease IN
the demand from the iron furnaces,
but probably to a larger extent on &C.
count of the falling OF In the export
of cotton, which reduced purchasing
ability throughout the rural COM
munities. There was q decrease of
S to Is per cent in the average price,
compared with 1913.
Neutrality-suspicious. presented
lanexception to the general rule in
1914 with q small increase in the
production Of coal. This increase is
| not to be attributed to anything
especially favorable in the way Of de.
mand, but to the great Developments
which have taken place in the east
ern part of the State during the last
two or three years and to the fact
that this region was in a position to
u11 q I016O pal - VI LAV OAOA S060 A0A&e
ed by the .idleness Of the Ohio mines.
In the western Kentucky field the
production in 1914 was about 80 per
cent Of the output in the preceding
year. The total production is esti-
mated at approximately 10000, 900
tons in 1914, compared with 1876
600 tons in the preceding year.
Maryland and Virginia-The coal
production of Maryland showed q de-
crease of about 10000 0tons in 1914,
and that of Virginia 100000 tons
In the former Sttae the decreased
production was due chiefly to the ap-
preaching exhaustion Of the Big Vein.
which has supplied more than IS per
cent Of Maryland's total coal pro-
duction. Many of the mines have al
ready been worked out and abandon
ed and others are "robbing'' pillars
and preparing to close permanently.
Developments, however. are being
made upon the Tyson and other lower
but thinner beds, and it is expected
that within few years these opera
lions will be sufficiently advanced to
bring Maryland's production to its
normal amount. In Virginia the de-
creased demand from the Transports
ton companies and from the cotton
mills in North and South Carolina
caused the smaller output In 1914
q. s. Geological Survey Press Bulle-
| tin.