The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1917-01-26

an records. according To- &. y. Lesher.
coal statiFtiCian Of the United States
geological survey. department 81 the
Interior The quantity Of bituminous
coal mined last year u estimated as
slightly more than bOg.OO0,OOO net
tons. and increase. compared with the
output of 1915. Of more than $4,000
zoe net tons. or IS per cent. and com.
pared with the previous maximum. In
1913. of 100000 tons Data fur.
nished by the anthracite bureau Of in
formation indicate that the produce
ton Of Pennsylvania anthracite was
NS.ai2, 900 net tons. about 600. 600 tons
less than In 1915. The total output
uf coal ln the United States H. thus cs-
umated at SCI. 500. 900 net tons. and
the final figures when complied may
show 600. goo. 900 tons. compared with
$40. 900. 900 tons In 1913.
The increase was general. only
three states. Maryland. Oklahoma and
Texas having had smaller produc-
ton than In 1915. The largest In
crease was In Ohio. whose production
IN 1916 H. estimated at 37.OO0.OOO
tons. compared with 22.i3b. 900 tons
In 1915, a gain Of 6b per cent Colo
RADIO. New Mexico. Virginia ard Wash
ington show increases 81 more than
20 per cent. and Kentucky, Montana,
North Dakota. Tennessee. West Wiz.
ginin and wyoming OF ~ Co Is per
cent In Pennsylvania the increase
was about 1900. 600 tons. or ~ per
cent
The consumption of coal by the
railroads In 1915 ~ estimated To- have
been i7.6Oo.O 900 tons greater than IN
1915, the USE uf coal In the manufac.
ture ~ coke was greater by 10000.
600 tons, exports increased about g.
500. 900 net tons. che coal mines used
500. 900 tons more for steam and heat
and the Increase In consumption.
mainly by manufacturing industries.
was $500. 900 tons
The Increased consumption of biz
luminous coal by the railroads and In
duHtriai Interests Of the country dur.
ng the year brought about a condition
In which the demand for coal was
greater than the ability OF the rail-
roads 90 deliver u. and In some iocali-
tics greater than the ability of the
mines 10 produce II. because of scare
ity of labor. There N no bach of coal
In the ground. ar 81 mines from which
n can be obtained. The soft coal
mines. however are not capippesi o.
store coal that has been mined. and
the coal must be loaded into railroad
cars ar soon ~ II II dug--in fact.
the miners NJ general rule do not 60
into the mines unless the cars are ON
hand Co take the days output.
The greater part of the bituminour
coal produced In 1918 was sold On
contracts nj prices lagrccd upon dur
ing the early part 1T the year. that
represented increases little " any
more than the Increases In wages
granted the miners. Tho high prices
az which the small quantity of coal
not contracted Tor 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 nn happens In the marketing of
any article or commodity under like
conditions. there was doubtless some
speculative holding and trading that
tended TO raise prices. This factor AMI
the inclination OF the middlrman and
retailer 20 exact extra profits are not
believed 60 have been any greater ~
regards coal than as regards other
necessities whose prices have risen
during the last few months
The shipments Of bituminous coal
In the period from October. 1915, Ia
March. 1919. were probably greater
than In any like period In the history
20 the industry. The maximum
monthly total for this period and foT
both years was reached In January
1916, and was In excess Of 10000. OO0
IONS. April showed a large decrease
ln shipments. hut there was partial
recovery In May. Through May. June
aud July operations wer. carried on
a comparatively even rate. Pro,
iuction In August was Increased and
about equaled that OF the preceding
March. and during the remainder oi
he year the high rate was main
tanned.
The winter months normally show
4 high rate OF production and con-
sumption of coal. largely because In
Older weather more fuel h. required
or heating ana Tor the operation at
al industries For Instance, data
nave been complied 10 show that from
70 10 2b per cent more coal rs re-,
tuired In January than In June "a
move the same quantity of freight the
anne distance, with the same equip
uent The production In the period
rom October, 1915. 10 March 1915,
vas even higher than the normal,
however owing 90 the fact that large
consumers, the railroads la particu-
ar. were putting coal into storage In
anticipation at a possible shutting
Town OF many OF the mines In April
md the months following. while a
lew wage scale was being negotiated
Data showing the quantity of coal
'hus produced In excess of immediate
equirements are not available. but II
y estimated that not less than TO-
100000 tons were put Ia storage. Ship
nents Of about $4,000, 900 tons would
nave been sufficient 10 supply the de.
nand In April, and IL Is evident that
n the beginning OF May several mil
ion tons of the quantity stored in the
winter were yet available. The In
rease In shipments In August OF
nearly IA per cent over July Ii attrib,
lted 20 the purchase OF coal for stoT
age In anticipation OF a general rail