Weekly journal-miner., 1916-02-09
Small Changes in Coal.

Sllldil SiioiSSS HI wa.
 Thes production of bituminous coal and anthracite in 1915 is estimated to have increased between 100000 and 5.OOO,O0O short tons, or less than l per cent. The quantity of bituminous coal mined increased about 6,50O,0 900 tons and that of anthracite decreased over 100000 short tons. Owing mainly to steady demands for export coal and for coke for steel making, the output in Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Kentucky and Alabama i1- creased over last year, but little change is recorded in other Eastern States. The region west of Ohio, in cluding the Mississippi valley, shows a general decrease, Colorado being the only Western State to show bet torment.
 Benzol.
 Connected witn the coke industry was the completion during the last Summer of number of large plants for the recovery of benzol from by product coke oven gas. This gives the United States its first output of this material. SO important as raw material in the manufacture of high explosives and chemical dyes. and the amount of this product will be re- ported later.
 Petroleum. Preliminary estimates of the total output of petroleum in the United States in 1915 indicate a slight in crease over the corresponding output in 1914. It is believed that the total petroleum yield of the United States in 1915 amounted to 2ol, 100000 bar. rels, of which quantity it is also esti- mated that 267, 10000 barrels wa: marketed and 24,000,00G barrels placed in producers field tankage during tho year.
 Sulphuric Acid.
 Thessulpnuric acid industry in l9l: presented interesting development. IT spite of the abnormal demand and higher prices in the latter half of tho year, much of the sulphuric acid had been contracted for or was consumed in the factories where made. The es timated production indicates an in crease of 6h per cent in the three common grades, but more than lU per cent in the strongest grades.
 Cement.
 The estimate of Portland cemen output in 1915 indicates shipments from the mills of S6,s24,5 800 barrels, al increase of one-tenth of one per cen over 1914 There was a slight de crease in production, and this. witt the appreciable decrease in stock, in dicates a more conservative trend il the industry, which i1 the preceding few years showed a tendency to over production. Prices generally aver aged a few cents lower per barrel Il 1915 than in 1914, although towar' the end of the year prices were sub stantially increased, and the outloo for 1916 is brighter than for severa seasons.
 Best Year in West.
 Perhaps the most notable item i the years record is .hc stimulation c metal mining in the Western State: Almost without exception the 1T creases in production were large an in several States 1915 was the bes year on record. In Arizona, whic leads in copper, the output of ths metal exceeded the previous recor ' production of 1913. California col ti1ues to lead in gold and had tn largest yield in B years, and wit one exception in half a century. Montana and Arizona record output of silver are reported. and in Alask :, the increased production of gold an especially copper made 1915 muc more prosperous year than even l9O when Fairbanks and Nome wei :, yielding their greatest returns of gol from bonanza placers.