Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-12-13
COAL MAY LAST
1900 YEARS In STATE
Experts Gives Figures that are Cal
culated to Prove His Argument.

that less than / per cent of the coal
IN West Virginia had been mined;
that at the present rate of product
ION it will last for 1, 400 years, Stp-
hen Hayes, general engineer of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufact-
airing company, of East Pittsburg,
one of the prominent international en-
gineer who has represented the West
inghouse company in all parts of the
world, declared to the Business club
or West Virginia university tonight
that the coal deposits in single
county of West Virginia marketed
at $3.50 ton, would pay the entire
national debt of the United Sttaes.
Continuing Mr.. Hyes gave the fol-
lowing interesting facts on West
Virginia:
Of West Virginia's population of
1,500, 900, 80 per cent are native-born
white.
Production of natural gas in 1916
was 100000 cubic feet, and in
1922 the disput was $4,000, 000, 900
cubic feet. The state stands supreme
IN this output.
There are 0,00O,0 900 invested in
gas and pipe lines of he state; $45,-
100000 in electric light and power
industries; $25,O0O,000 in electric
railways; $4,000, 900 in telephones.
Manufacturers in West Virginia
IN 1919 were valued at $471 600, 900.
The value of coal tonnage produced
was 1896, 100000.
There are $1,000 farms in state
Nth $500, 600. acres value at about
$500, OOO, 900. The value Of products
Of the farms last year was $66,O0O,-
900.
The average annual coal output OF
the past few years has been 10000
600 tons. Pennsylvania is the only
state with a greater coal output, and
Ill. is the only serious competitor for
second place.
The available coal area is about g.
500 square miles, which shelter $4,000
100000 tons of good coal. There
IRE also about 100, 600, 100000 tons
of low-grade coal. Less than / per
cent of the available coal has been
mined.
If the present high average output
of 10000, 900 tons per year should be
increased to $1,000, 900 tons annually
West Vrginia's coal would last 300
years. At the present rate of min
ing of high-grade coal, Pennsylvania
10000, 900, 900 tons would be ex-
busted in 80 years; Ohio's 25,000,-
100000 tons in 900 years, and West
yirginia's e0,OOO,ooo,O 900 tons in l.
400 years
From information furnished by the
division on power research of the U
S. Geological Survey, West Virginia
led all southern states in electric pro-
iuction for the year 1922. The total
kilowatt power output was 1851 49,
900, this being 480,00O,OOO greater
shan the state of Missouri, her near
est competitor. Less TIM 2 per cent
Of this was generated by water pow
er.
West Virginia has greater potent
ial water power than any other state
east of the Rocky mountains, except
ing New York.
West Virginia is traversed by sever
large railway systems. 1t produces
a tonnage unequaled by any state ii
the union of equal area.
West Virginia has enormous Goa
deposits and water powers, anc
must be considered as pivotal point
around which will doubtless center 9
large part Of the super power sy.
stem that may ultimately tie together
all Of the eastern and southern sect.
ion of the United States.
Many persons are fairly familiar
with the coal and water resources Of
West Virginia, but some may not rea
ize that the coal deposits ola single
county Of West Virginia, if sold al
$3.50 per ton, would clear off the nat
ional debt of the United States.
While all Americans are proud o.
their country and the enormous a
mount of power used in our indust
ries, the people of West Virgins
could rightly boast that their Goa
supply would take care of all of the
power demands Of the entire Unitet
States for many years.