The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-16
OUTPUT OF COAL
NOW ON THE
INCREASE
Better Outlook for the Industry
is Reported by the GeolOgi-
cal Survey.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l5-The coal
industry Of the United States, which
began the year 1915 under adverse
conditions, improved steadily during
the summer and fall in sympathy
with the general betterment Of bust
ness. and in November and Decem-
Der was in better position as regards
markets and prices than at any time
since 1913, although in the territory
west of the Ohio river the improve
ment came too late to overbalance
the depression of the earlier months.
The production Of bituminous coal
and anthracite in the United States
In 1915 is estimated by G. E. Lesher,
of the United States Geological Sur
vey, at 51S,000,000 short tons, an
increase over 1914 of less than one
per cent. Bituminous production in
creased about 100000 tons, and
the output Of anthracite was less
than in 1914 by about 100000
short tons. The increase in the out
put of soft coal was not shared equal
ly by all the fields, for reports from
| 100 coal-carrying railroads and from
leading coal mining operators and
others familiar with the industry in
dictate that in the bituminous fields OF
the East production increased,
where in the area west Of the Ohio
river there was a general decrease.
All states in the Mississippi valley
and in the Rocky Mountain and Pa
cific coast regions, except colorado
and possibly Wyoming, remained
either practically stationary as re-
CARDS output or showed decreases.
Demand for Export Coal.
In the East. on account Of the
steady demand for export coal and
for coke for steel making and the
general improvement in business, the
output of bituminous coal In Penn
sylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky
and Alabama increased to a crafty
ing extent. Ohio and Virginia also
had increases. but Georgia, Mary
land and Tennessee recorded de-
creases. In Pennsylvania the in
crease was mainly in the coking dis
tricts, and for the state It is estimated
to have been about 100000 tons.
The weekly reports OF coke produc-
ton published in the Connellsville
Courier indicate that the output Of
coke in the two Connellsville districts
increased over 100000 tons, or 16
per cent, and as each ton Of coke
represents about u tons Of coal, an
increase of over 100000 tons Of
coal is indicated. The prosperous
condition of the steel industry in the
South is responsible for an increase
OF nearly 100000 tons in the coal
output of Alabama. Developments be-
gun several years ago in West Vingln-
Ia and In eastern Kentucky are now
small part of the demand for Ken
lucky coal comes from the by-product
coke plants of the Middle West. The
increase In Kentucky was about g.
000,0 tons, and in West Virginia
approximately 100000 short tons
1t Is not unreasonable to consider
that the increase in the East would
have been greater had 1t not been for
n shortage Of transportation facilities,
which developed in the fall and which
at the close OF the year assumed SER
ious proportions. The shortage Of
railroad cars was confined mainly to
the East and South and Is said to be
due, to congestion at seaboard points
caused by the inability Of shippers to !