The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-26

The United States seems likely to
become, in the near future. the chief
coal exporting country OF the world,
although our country ranked third
among the coal exporting nations in
the year Immediately preceding the
war Reports from Great Britain,
formerly the worlds chief coal ex-
| of coal In the year ending with June
are but about one-half that Of the
year preceding the war while our own
coal exports have meantime increased
over Is per cent. making the United
!, States for 1915 close second to Great
Britain, with a prospect that our total
in the fiscal year just opening will
materially exceed that of Great Britain.
Coal exports from Great Britain, &C
cording to a statement by the National
City Bank of New York have fallen
from $4,000 600 tons in 1919 to APP
p"eximately 100000 tons In the
twelve months ending with June, 1919
while our own exports which were n
little over 100000 tons In the fiscal
year 1914 were nearly $4,000. 900 in
the fiscal year 1918.
Figures showing the quantity of coal
entering international trade in the year
prior to the war. as compiled by the
bank. show a grand total Of about
100, 600 900 tons, of which Great Britain
supplied 100000 tons: Germany, as
100000 United States. 22.eoo. 900: Bel
GUM, 100000: Japan. 1000, 900; South
Africa a little over 200e 900 and Can
ada and Australia about 100000 each
British exports Of coal averaged prior
to the war about 10000. 900 tons per
annum. but latest advices from that
country show that the steady reduc-
ton of output which has characterized
the war period, and especially the very
recent years. indicate that the total
production from her mines will be lit
tie more than her normal home con-
sumption. and that at the best the
coal controller" according to the Lon
don Economist of June 81. cannot as
sure us of more than 100000 tons
OF coal for export for the twelve months
beginning with July is, 1919" while.
as above indicated, the total for the
year ending with July was but about
one-hslf that of the year preceding the
war.
Meantime Germany, which ranked
next to Great Britain as a coal ex-
porter prior to the war, loses by the
peace treaty. a considerable percent
age OF her coal area, and according
to recent reports from that country,
Will probably show fall off OF So
100000 tons per annum in her produce
ton, and as her total surplus for ex-
portatlOn PRIOR 10 the war was but
about 100000 tons, it is apparent
that she will have. aside from that
which she must supply to France. lit
tie for expectation. The other coal
exporting countries, after considering
Great Britain. Germany. and the
United States, are Belgium. whose an
nual export OF coal amounted to about
100000 tons; Japan about 1900, 900
tons: South Africa, Canada and Aus
tralia. couple OF million tons each
These figures Of the fall of Of more
than onc-half in the British power OF
coal expectation, the elimination OF
Germany as coal exporter, texcept
to France). and the extremely small
quantity which any other country of
the world. other than the United
States. can supply, seem to indicate
clearly that the United States will take
its place at the head Of the list of
coal exporting countries in the fiscal
year upon which 1t is now entering
and remain permanently the worlds
great coal exporter. Even with the
fall off in production which has oc-
CURED during the current year, fol-
lowing the return to Europe of many
aliens employed in the coal mines our
output for the year will probably be
nearly three times as great as that OF
Great Britain. and four or FIVE times
as much as any other country of the
world
The coal reserve" OF the United
States-by which is meant the esti-
mated amount'of coal underground