The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26

It at Henryetta. Bottom, string Of coal
company's mines, ready for the market
their part toward winning the struggle
against the enemy, helping their en-
ployers in one OF the greatest battles
the coal industry has ever had to fight
$500 Tons 4 Day.
In the Hcnryctta district proper to-
day there are coming from the thirty
two mines total Of $500 tons OF coal
daily. This immense quantity Of fuel
is being mined from strip pits and deep
mines, some of which are now working
at Aep,h OF 400 feet The 1900 miners
who work in these mines are united in
their efforts TO help win the war and
have all given their employers assur-
ancc that thos will remain at work dur
ing the war in cooperating with them
in keeping the nation supplied in fuel
Seventeen years ago, on June ). the
ienryetta coal field was opened. c. II.
Kellogg, then one of the best known
operators, was the first man, to sink a
shaft in this field. II was on June J
that he sold his first car OF coal 1t
went to the Frisco Railroad company
at price of SlOS per ton, that then
being the minimum price on mine run
coal. Kellogg was in the employ OF
the X K I, Coal company which after
ward was sold to the Central Coal com
pany who now operate the original
mine in the Hcnryctta field After the
coal deposit discovery was made scores
of operators began to flock into Henry
eta, then a town of about one hundred
people. most OF whom lived in tents
Within year three mines were In oper-
alton and from that time until the
present the number has been increasing
steadily
Price, Too, Has Multiplied.
Oklahoma bituminous coal is now be
ing sold at Irc mines from $50 To 81,
the latter being the price paid for lump
screen coal the highest grade product
mined from a depth OF 400 feet, This
same coal in 1901 was selling al the
Mines at 81 08 to Sl.SS and these prices
remained for several years, until 1905,
when the price OF coal began to soar,
but 1t is now at the highest price in its
history. Even on the original price ac
cordlng to Mr.. Kellogg, the mines were
able to make fair profits. The facilities
were lacking IN many rcspects, as they
frequently were unable to secure cars
Wages were lower. bu, the time lost by
poor facilities in handling coal wonld
make mp for the difference in frs,
price, and the new scale, made effective
/ by the government September l. II is
the same coal, taken from the same
strata and handled over the same rail.
roads as at present
Demand Is Growing.
Demand for htuminouS coal is grow
ing more rapidly now than ever before
IN the history oi the industry. Since
January of this year practically ever,
mine in the Henryetta district has beer
Swampcd with orders which they have
been unable to fill. owing 10 lack o
railroad facilities to ge, the coal tC
the jobberS and in some cases, labo'
difficulties which tied IN many mine'
for months before a settlement was ci
iectcd This labor trouble has diSap
ncared during 1917 and all mines hav,
hccn doing capacity work since the frs
ot the year.
That Oklahoma will do rs shar,
toward furnishing fuel for the nation i
assured The Henryct,a district. a
tested and now operating covers a,
area ot twenty square miles Upon thi
immense proven acreage there is ampl
room for many more mines than ar
now in oneta,ion Local oncratotS ar
OF the belief that before Ian, |, lQlS
fully iiitv mines will I've in onera
ton II this be true, Oklahoma will b
furnishing more than her share OF Goa
IN 1918 as already the state is reach
''V the leading ranks in coal ptoduc
tion Of the United States Il is esti
mated that thsre is 1000 miles of nm
developed coal lands in the state. in
cluding the McAlcier, IIartshorr
llailcvvllc Niuita Coa'ea,c. Wilburto
and Hcntyet,a districts. This is ter
ritoty upon which there is not-on
mine operating at present, hu, whw
will be developed later it is believed
100000 Tons a, Henryctta.
The llenrvctta district alone will pro
duce lO0ON tons of coal in lol
This estimate is given hy <,nSctva,iy
coal operators here, and i, IS pn,hahI
tha, II will even go higher than tha
m view OF the fac, ,ha, the deman
grms s,eadier as the days pass y
Three years ago, on June W Of l9l
| the mines oi this district were produ,
ing 10000 tons of coal yearly. an
/ this amount was no, increased unt
two years ago when, on June 20, III
production for the year showed ll2p
tons Only few of the mines wei
working normal time, many OF the,
] being temporarily closed down. b,