The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-27
ALABAMA MINES 2O,9l9,3O3 TONS
 OF COAL IN 1923
Annual Report Shows Big Increase Over Pre-
 viOus Year

Alabama coal mines produced 20,s 910,303 tons of coal in 1923, an in- crease of 2,161,622 over 1922, accord ing to the annual report by Charles H. Nesbit, to Governor Brandon. The report is being released to interested parties through the offices of Mir. Nes- bit, in the Chamber of Commerce build ing. In addition to the prod6ction of coal, the report shows that in 1923 the state. produced 4,689,641 tons of coke, an increase of 929,517 tons over the preceding year, 1922.
 Mir. Nesbit reported that during the year the industry was free of large casualties, it being noted that the deaths at coal mine operations came about by the fall of coal or rock and similar isolated reasons. In relation to accidents Mir. Nesbit says the matter of safer working conditions for miners received from the coal operators the highest attention and that every safe guard was thrown about the state. He also notes that matters of safety in whatever directing received the ap- proval- and assistance of the mine own CTS.
 The inspectors unde rMr. Nesbit. made 1920 regular inspections and in- vestigated 123 fatal and non-fatal acci- dents. In each case a complete exami- nation was made and written report made to the chief inspector as to the cause and the results.
 Rescue Work Pushed
 Referring to the-sim-annual examina- ton for formens' certificates it is noted that in January, 545 en were sue cessful and seven failed. Later on in June 80 were successful and 39 failed
 The report refers to the work 0t the United States bureau of mines in training men in rescue work as being thoroughly established and many of the operating companies have purchased breathing apparatus and are prepared in the event of an accident to carry on rescue work within their own organiza- tion." This is considered a long step forward in safeguarding lives at coal operations.
 During the year six new openings were made, while six transfers of owner ship in coal mines was recorded.
 There are now 2C3 coal mines in constant operation in Alabama, whose combined tonnage passed 20,0O0,0OO tons last year. It is thought that with fair working conditions during the next four months of 1924 this gigantic fig ure will be again reached and possibly broken.
 In classifying his accidents, Mir. Nes- bit points out that 49.44 per cent were caused by falls of right. 21.35 per cent by mine cars, etc, 10 per cent elestro- cuted and S.90 per cent due to gas ex- plosions. In handing the vast amount of explosives only two accidents are noted, being 2.25 per cent in the aver age table.
 Mine operators generally look upon that as being record but there is be- ing taken steps to corr ct the acci- dents due to falls within the mines, which accounted for nearly half the total deaths in all Alabama mine opera tions.
 2,0OO Ovens Operated.
 In his analysis of coke oven opera tions in the state during the year, Mir. Nesbitt says that 2,690 ovens were operated of the two types, bi-product and beehive. There was produced A. 6S9, ,G41 tons of coke as compared to 3, ,76O,064 in the year previous It re- Quired 6,S95, ,294 tons of coal to pro- 1uce the coke tonnage of which the bi- product ovens produced 4,44S,1 ,12S tons of coke, or 94.8 per cent of the total tonnage as compared to 241 ,513 tons of the beehive variety, or 5.2 per cent of the total. This indicates that the beehive process is practically discarded in Alabama and operators are giving their attention to the modern bi-prod- uct method.
 During the year 109 new ovens were all of them being of the type. This number will be increased considerable during 1924 by reason of the construction recently au- by the Alabama Bi-Products and other companies.
 The Tennes--e g Coal, Iron and Rail- road company with is ovens at Fair field, produced more coke than any other Alabama company, the tonnage being 1 ,S39, ,228 tons, which required 2,735, ,142 tons of coal. All of the ovens were bi- product. The Republic Iron and Steel operated more beehive ovens than any company, having in operation ,00S, which produced 41,S71 tons of coke, consuming 69, 785 tons of coal.
 Jefferson county headed all coking counties in producing, there being A. 187, ,581 tons cooked, as compared to 307,- 2S5 in Tuscaloosa county, the nearest rival. In this, Jefferson coal to the amount of 6,157,S42 tons was con stunned in coke production.