Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
COAL SUPPLY OF WORLD;
UNITED STATES LEADS
Present Fuel Shortage Not Due &c
Smaller Production at the Coal
Mines OF Country.
STARTLING FACTS AND FIGURES
War Has Increased Exports But Lit
tie More Than Production Has
Been Increased-Plenty OF Coal
to Avoid Famine.

the United States is due to causes
other than lack OF output by the mines
is indicated by Il compila ton by the
National City Bank of New York, which
estimates the total output of 1917 for
this country greater than in amy
earlier year and shows that the United
States actually produces nearly 4o per
cent OF the coal of the world. In 1850
we were producing less than 10 per
cent OF the worlds coal output; in 1870.
10 per cent; in 1850. 2l per cent; i'll
1890. 81 per cent; in 1910 iS per cent:
in 1916, a per cent, and the 1917 re-
cord when completed will probably
show our share of the worlds output
fully - per cent.
The coal production OF the United
states grew from less than half
million tons in 1850 to 100000 tons in
1870. 100000 in 1860. 100000 in
1880. 100000 in 1890. c7o.oo0.oo0 in
1904. a6..20o.0o0 in 1910, a9c.oon.o0o in
1915 and estimated at 610. 100000 short
IONS in 1917.
Pennsylvania is by far the largest
coal-producine State, her total output
asgrcEatins nearly 25c,oO0,c0o tons
against about S0.o0a.000 in Virginia and
West Virginia. Go,c00,oco in Illinois.
.3.oooO0O in Ohio, 2l.o0o,000 in Ken
lucky. 100000 in Indiana and Is
oo0Uco in Alabama. Practically all OF
the anthracite coal produced in tho
United States is mined in the state of
Pennsylvania. where II forms about
one-third Of the total output. Pres
cnt indications arc that the anthracite
production OF 1917 will aggregate about
100000 shor; tons out OF total
coal production OF approximately G1o.-
100000 short tons in the entire United
states.
UNITED STATES WORLDS
LARGEST COAL PRODUCER
The United States has been for many
wears the worlds largest producer OF
coal. In 1913 the year preceding tho
war and the latest normal year Tor
world production the United states
produced $4,000, 600 short tons. against
322000,Oo0 in Great Britain; 5o6.0o0,oo0
in Germany; Go,000.000 in Austria Hun
gary; 45,eoo.0oo in France: 3G,000.oo0
in Russia 25000,eo0 in Belgium and
2A0o0.0o0 in Japan. The total world
product of that year was l.4IS.Qoo,Oo0
tons, our share OF that total being
approximately IS per cent. In 1916 our
share OF the worlds product was about
"a per cent and in 1917 will presum-
ably approximate IS per cent.
The United States is quite naturally
the largest coal producer of the
world. According to the banks state
ncnt its coal supply far exceeds that
OF any other country. her estimated
supply being 3.5aI,o00. 100000 short
tons against 10000. 100000 in Great
Britain the next largest producer;
1000, 000. 900 in Germany. which ranks
bird "a a coal producer. China's sup
ply ranks next TO that of the United
States, and is estimated at l.500. 000. 900
short tons. or less than half our own,
hut China's OUTPUT of coal is extremely
small. Il trinc of l5.432.000 tons in 1913.
according 10 the banks statement. So
large Is our supply that according TO
the Geological Survey the quantity OF
coal produced from the mines OF the
United States since coal mining began
II century ago is but about one half
Of ! per cent OF the original supply
the entire output of our mines from
the beginning OF coal mining In 1900
10 the end OF 1917 having been 1900
ooo'oo9 tons out OF an estimated sup
WAR INCREASED OUn.
EXPORTS 80 PER CENT
Notwithstanding the fact that we
have by far the worlds largest supply
and are also tho worlds largest pro
Queer OF coal. our exports are much
less than those OF certain other coui-
tries. having a much smaller suprly.
Great Eritairl's coal exports in 1918.
the latest normal wear amounted to
S2Oo090o short tons. and Gcr,nanv's
about S7.o0O,0uc short tons. while the
emitted states in the fiscal year 1913
exported but about 10000 900 short
IONS since the beginning OF the war
however, our coal exports have shown
s!'Ghi increase, having been in 1917
ABOUT 70 per cent more than in 1912
"hiie those OF Great Britain meantime
ucchheo' and those OF Germany were
or course. confined TO trade with ,be
adjacent neutral countries The total
N"INe OF coal exported from the United
states In the fiscal year 1917 was
Ss6'oVo'ou9, agaiist sG5. OO0, 900 in 1919.
OF this Ss5,o0o00O worth exported IN
1917, $4,000 900 went to Canada a.
ooo'oVO TO Cuba, about 37.oOoooO IN
south America. and $3.50. 900, 900 IN
Italy. W
me quantity Of coal consumed on tho
oceans or the world by vessels engaged
IN international trade and the navi.e
Oh the various countries is cs,im...a
ny 'he bank ~ about 5000 600 tous
ncr ahnuin, valued at Approximately
*Z6o'ooo'ooo. these figures relating 10
'h"'''ohs preceding the war. Tho
o'a' quantity al the prssen, time IS
"ouoSiess materially less. both bv rea.
son OF inc reduction in the number Of
eSseis engaged in ocean transporta.
on ""o INC further fact that MANY
'"e Tcssels are now using oil for