The Washington herald., 1921-09-02
SOFT COAL FIELD
SHOWSSLICHTCA GAIN
IN PRODUCTION
Sales About 7oeo of Last
Years, Coal Age Re
ports.
SURPLUS IN CHICAGO
Small Increase in Demand
Only Tantalizes the
Market.
SURPLUS IN CHICAGO

Somewhat general but rela-
lively small increases In production
Of bituminous coal in the past Tire.
weeks. over the correspondinr
weeks OF July have only tantaiz.d
the market" says the Coal Age.
In the Middle West there has been
a real stimulus 20 the domestic de-
mand for lump and prepared coal,
but the output Of sized product 10
meet the demand has again thrown
a surplus Of screenings on the mar
ket' and distress sales are quite
common in Chicago territory. This
condition extends east in,, IN.
Ohio and south irto Kentucky In
the Appalachians. particularly IN
Pennsylvania. some improven.,, Fl,
1emaho Tor run-of-mine steam
bolstered prices slightly
a year ago the outpu, Of so,,
coal was ll.si3.00O tons in the sec-
ond week Of August: this wear Il,
was 1,756.0O0 tons, or 20 per cen,
as much. A year ago Illinois and
Indiana mines were reporting on
Grafton at 60 10 IS per cen, 81 fuII
time; this year IL is 90 per cent q,
full time-that IS 20 say. the corr
Try as a whole IS producing 20 nor
cent OF last years tonnage oy bi-
luminous coal and the larees, Helds
In the Middle West are doinp
around eS per cent Of last years
record.
Rates in Other Fields.
by the same sta7dlrds. S.,rr ~
ONO Is doing half as we'll as last
wear: Eastern Ohio S. per cent:
Pittsburgh les than one-third as
well: Somerset County. the large
nonunion district. is working bo,
ter time now thar last year Tho
Pocahontas field is working 75 rs-
cent OF last years rate. IN" high
volatile fields in Southern wes'
virginia at about half last years
feverish speed. The important pofn'
10 bear in mind. in comparing this
year with 1921. Is that lack Of or
ders now dominates the market
year ago il was lack Of cars IT,
which 10 load the coal.
Encouraging signs are fc,I,,F de.
the better movement Of urrer
lake docks 70 ir,e-p- p,.ir'S. ,r,.,,.
cars Of coal going into New Eng
land and more railroad buyin..
Dumpings for up-laka arc easing
of but exports through Hampton
Roads have picked IN. not. how
ever. as a result Of any new bus
ness.
Anthracite. dropping in tho
week OF August 90. because ~ gcr-
eral observances of a religious ho1-
iday TO 1929 600 net tons. Is nor ~
as steady demand as earlier in tho
season and as Il will be with cold
weather.
Effect ef MIne-Cave TaN.
The mine-cave tax bills of The
State Of Pennsylvania having bc-
come effective Saturday. August .
II is reported that the Glen AIder
Mining Company closed three col
lieries and the Price Pancoast Com
pany. one mine that. in the opinf,..
Of these companies. cannot he or,sr-
ated under the law. It is too ear
yet TO determine whether the on
Grafton Of this law will seriouslv
affect anthracite production
Labor troubles in Indiana. Wss'
Virginia and Pennsylvania Iar.
had no effect on productior nov
have they Influenced the rna-L.'.
The West Virginia trouN'.
continuation OF the effort 10 union
ize the Kenova-ThaCker field: tho
Indiana disturbance IS reported A.
due TO some radicals getting ou'
of hand. The governor or India"a
has called a conference % settle 'i.'
matter. In tho Cnnncllsville r"-
gion. the largest Independent coal
and coke producer has closed its
mines beCaUS" some 1000 nonUnior
men refused 10 accept the latest
wage reductions"