The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-05
STEAM COAL OUTPUT
HAS Big INCREASE
Shipments This Year Reach
6,843,000 Tons, Against
G,183,OOO in 1917.
VALUE OF RECLAMATION
1t Is a Rare Mine Nowadays
Which Is Not Working
Out a Dirt Bank.
VALUE OF RECLAMATION
BY VI. ID. EDMONDS.
Speei1l DespntcA 10 TIE SrN.


Special DespatcA 10 THE srH.
louisville, Pa, Aug. As far as
the consumer of hard coal Is concerned,
the labor situation in the anthracite
fields is OF the most appeal when It is
translated into terms OF tonnage. The
current coal year. dating from April 1.
by its records seems to bear out the feel
ing OF the mine operators that they can
meet the demand, provided that their
labor supply be conserved.
Shipments up to July have been
c0.123.29s tons. against 19,55S.ss1 tons
for the corresponding period last year.
hut TINS increase has been altogether in
the steam sizes, and means comparative
~ little to the domestic cone umer,
though 1t is true that buCkwheat Is be-
coming more and more a domestic fuel,
as pointed out by w. J. Richards, presi-
dent OF the Reading.
So-called domestic sizes and pea coal
for the coal year up to July account
for shipments OF 13,219.Ss9 tors,
against 13,375.7o7 tons for the cor
responding period last year Steam coal
shipments this year amount to 6,s43.000
tons. against 6.ls3,000 tons for the cor
responding period in 1917.
Thus the domestic sizes have fallen
about $4,000 tons and the steam sizes
have gained $4,000 tons. AS that stands
II has every appearance of justifying
ne belief OF mining men that the situa-
ton can be controlled II the labor prob
lem is settled, but additional losses OF
men can mean only additional losses OF
domestic coal tonnage.
II Is quite likely that the decrease in
domestic sizes, which are prepared from
fresh mined coal. can be accounted for
in few centres II is understood that
the Reading, the premier producer. is
getting about its usual quota OF fresh
mined coal.
RecIa nation of Coal.
The heavy increase 4, steam coal is
accounted for by the utilizing of dirt
banks. piled up in the days when nut
coal was about the smallest size wanted
II Is a rare mine nowadays which Is not
washing out a dirt bank in addition to
handling fresh coal. Most Of the coal so
reclaimed is below pea coal in size. and
except for the comparatively small
quantity which may be recovered from
the actual surface OF the bank, 1t Is
perfectly good fuel.
Slush banks. too, are giving up their
contents. Slush Is the sediment which
settles from the ropy black water issuing
at the exhaust end of washery OF
breaker. In most cases 1t is almost pure
coal AS the w-ter drains off there is
a great field OF coal left. Most of it is
rice coal or smaller. But as rice No. 2
and rice No can now be used to good
advantage in plants which have forced
draft and automatic stokers, and as II
Is said to work well when mixed with
bituminous, these slush banks are be-
ing turned to good account
A third resource which Ia being
worked extensively is in ,the creeks and
rivers OF the coal regions, which are
being scooped out for the sake of the
fine coal they have carried down stream.
There are said to be a dozen or SO OF
these washings in an eighteen mile
stretch on Shamokin Creek. and the ag
gregate effect on tonnage throughout
the region must be large.
Some OF this coal figures in railroad
shipments. but a large part is consumed
locally. The Eagle silk mills in Shamo-
kin have been retaining fuel coal from
Coal Run for some time and are said
to get as much as forty tons day
from that source They have just erected
another retaining station at a mill on
Shamokin Creek. within Shamokin bor-
ough limits. and 1t seems to be work
ing we'll in getting out rice coal.
Tremendous Efforts.
But these things, important as they
may be. are side issues after all. Re-
lance for continued coal production
must be placed on the mines. The eff
forts made to keep the mines up to
par with depleted labor supplies have
been tremendous.
Electric machinery has been installed
wherever 1t would prove effective, but
this work has not progressed as fast
as desired on account OF the difficulty
in getting machines delivered. The same
thing applies to the policy of running
compressed air lines to operate ham
mers for miners drilling in hard places.
New chute devices to move coal
rapidly from the breasts have been
tried out and the Reading has even
adopted the policy OF using galvanized
sheets in those breasts where a metal
base Ia needed to make the coal slide,
instead of relying on old style sheet
iron, which rusts and so mpedes the
free passage OF coal down to the chute.
Thus the whole question comes back
to the labor supply in the mines
Roughly. the men who work inside can
be classified thus: Miners who hold
State certificate and who do the actual
coal cutting: miners laborers. men in
line Tor certincateS who work tmme-
diately under direction OF the miners
transportation men. such as drivers,
leaders men who handle the wagons al
the bottom OF the mine and at the top
and company men, such as inside track
repairmen, pump runners and mechanics
of various sorts who keep the inside |
equipment UP to par.
The military draft has fallen heavily |
or three Of these classes---transportatio |
men. mechanics and miners laborers |
the supply OF certificate
miners has not been unduly depleted, |
but without laborers to help and with
out transportation men to handle the
coal when mined the miner Is unable to |
get out anything like full production. |
Thus II Is possible, even in these DAYS
Of coal demand, for a miner to be will |
ing and anxious to work and yet be
unable to do so.
An illustration Given.
This IL how II works out: Lahorers
ere scarce In some Of the Susuuehanna |
mines, and so are drivers. 1t is possible |
OF course for the miners to take a breast |
tose ther. but two miners normally should |