The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-01-11
COAL sMAsHEs RECORD.


The production and consumption ii
coal in the United States in 1916 ex.
ceeded all past records. The guam
tity of bituminous coal mined last
year is estimated by G. e. Lesher,
OF the United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the Interior, as
slightly more than 509,OO0,00O net
tons an increase, compared with 1915,
of more than 66,50O,OOO tons, or 10
per cent, and greater by $1,000, coo
tons than the record of 1913. Data
furnished by the Anthracite Bureau
of Information indicate that the pro-
duction of Pennsylvania anthracite
was SS,312,000 net tons, about 10000
tons less than in 1915. The total
output of coal in the United States
is thus estimated at 597,5O0,OOO net
tons and the official figures when
compiled may show 6OOOOO,OOO tons,
compared with J7O,O0OOO0 tons in
1918.
This estimate, which is to be fol-
lowed shortly by more detailed
statement, shows that the increase
was general, only three states. Mary
land, Oklahoma and Texas, having
had a smaller production than in
1915. The largest increase was in
Ohio, whose production in 1916 is es-
timated at 100000 tons, compared
with 22,435, 900 tons in 1915, a gain
of 65 per cent. Colorado, New Mex
leo, Virginia, and Washington show
increases of more than 20 per cent,
and Kentucky, Montana, North Dako-
ia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wy
oming of IA to IS per cent. In
Pennsylvania the increase was about
100000 tons, or IL per cent.
The consumption of coal by the
railroads in 1916 is estimated to have
been 100000 tons greater than in
1915, the use of coal in the manufac-
ture of coke was greater by 20,500,0O0
tons exports increased about 7,000,-
900 net tons, the coal mines used 500,.
600 tons more for steam and heat,
and the increase in consumption,
mainly by the manufacturing indus
tries, was 21,OQ0,0OO tons.
The increased consumption of BIZ
luminous coal by the railroads and
during the year brought about q
condition in which the demand for
coal was greater than the ability of
the railroads to deliver it and in
some localities greater than the abil-
ity of the mines to produce it, be-
cause of scarcity of labor. There is
no lack of coal in the ground, or Of
mines from which it can be obtained.
The sOft-coal mines, however, are not
equipped to store coal that has been
mined and the coal must be loaded
into railroad cars as soon as it is dug
in fact. the miners as a general rule
do not go into mine unless the cars
are on hand to take the days out
put.
The greater part of the bituminous
coal produced in 1916 was sold on
contracts at prices (agreed upon dur
ing the early part of the year, that
increases little ii any
more than the increases in wages
granted the miners. The high prices
at which the small quantity of coal
not contracted for was sold during
the last three months Of the year
were the result of excess of demand
over supply. The buyers bid the
price up, and as happens in the mar
keting of any article or commodity
under like conditions, there was
doubtless some speculative holding
and trading that tended to raise the
prices This factor and the inclin-
aticn of the middleman and retailer
to exact extra profits are not believ-
ed to have been any greater as re-
CARDS coal than as regards other ne
cessities whose prices have risen
during the last few months.