The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-05
soo,ooo,ooo TONS COAL.
Were Mined in United States During
the Year 1914.

the Year 1914.
Notwithstanding the slough Of de.
spond through which the coal-mining in
dustry of the United States was com
PEELED 10 work its way during the last
nine months OF 1914, decidedly hope
full tone prevailed at the end of the
year, and the opinion generally express
ed to Edward w. Parker statistieian
| of the United States geological survey
was that the receding tide had reached
its full ebb, and optimism was apparent
regarding the coming year According to
| MIR. Parker's estimate, which is based
upon numerous estimates received from
leading coal-mine operators and others
familiar with the industry, the total
coal production OF the United States
| in 1914 was about 5l0,000,000 short tons,
decrease of about 6n,000,0q0 tons COM
pared with the record output Of 1913.
| Practically all OF this decrease was in
the output OF the bituminous mines. The
| production in Pennsylvania anthracite
| in 1914 was not materially different
| from that Of the preceding year, which
| was Sl,7IS,6S0 long tons In 1914, how
ever, about 100000 tons principally
nut and steam sizes went into storage,
so that the quantity sent to market
was about 100000 tons less than in
lob.
| The principal decreases in the produc-
| ton OF bituminous coal were in the cox
| ing districts. 1t is estimated that IN
Pennsylvania alone the production of
/ btuminous coal decreased between 90
100000 and 25,000,000 tons and that the
larger part of this decrease was in Fa-
yette and WestmorelanG- counties, which
constitute the Connellsville and Lower
Conceivable coking dist2:cts. The week
reports OF coke production published in
| the Connelsville Courier indicate that
the output OF coke in the two Connells.
vile districts was less than that of 1913
/ by about 100000 tons, or 80 per cent,
and as each ton of coke represents about
| - tons of coal decrease of nearly
| 10000 900 tons in the coal output is in
dicated in these districts alone. The
proportionate decrease in the other COX
! ing districts was even greater and was
particularly noticeable in Alabama. In
! West Virginia coke making has become
yearly OF relatively less Importance, and
although coal production in some of the
older districts showed substantial loss
es, new mines have been opened and
these have in part made up the decrease
in production in the older districts. More
over, West Virginia mines that ship to
the western states have been called upon
To make up the shortage in those states
caused by the prolonged strike IN the
eastern Ohio districts, and the section
Iol West Virginia thus affected showed
Ian increased production over 1918.
Among the eastern sta:es, Ohio show
ed the largest proportion of decrease for
in addition to The depressed condition
of business the labor controversies in
the eastern part of the state kept a
number of mines idle for practically the
entire year The output OF the state
Tor 1914 is estimated at barely six per
cent OF the output in 1913
The production in the Mississippi Val
LEV states is estimated to have decreased
about 10 per cent. and the estimated
decrease in the Rocky Mountain states
lis between five and 10 per cent.
/ On the Pacific coast the constantly
extending use OF California petroleum
Tor fuel is the principal factor OF in
fluenee in the coal industry, although
the depression in the lumber trade in
Washington had also a reflected adverse
influence on coal production, which Is
estimated to have been about 20 per
cent less than in 1918.
The opinion ~ generally expressed
that the chief effect Of the war IN Eu-
rope upon the coal trade OF the United
states vas 10 retard or prevent the re-.
turn 10 more normal conditions which
vas about 10 b. accomplished when the
war broke out The first three months
OF 1914 wera Of unusual activity, the
thigh rate OF production OF the preceding
wear having been carried over into the
first quarter Of 1914 and the weather in
January and February having stimu-
lated the demand 20 some extent. Then
came the slump IN the iron trade, gen.
eral depression in business, shut down
oi coke ovens, and a period OF distres.
throughout the coelmining regions
which has rarely been exceeded The
demand. production and prices were al
al 80 low an ebb when the war broke
out that Il is not believed to have had
any direct influence on the coal trade
The quantity OF coal exported from th,
Tinted States. II compared with the TO
tai production. can not be considered
very large. aud 10 far the greater part
oi Il goes to Canada. which has taker
about the same amount in 1914 a. ir
preceding years.
A. usual in times Of depression ans
Of decreased production there was Z
plentiful supply Of labor throughout thl
bitumtnous coal.miuing region during
The entire ycar. and ior the same rea
sons there WAS no complaint OF made
qnate TRANSFORMATION facilities