The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-09
PUT ON SOUNDEST
ECONOMIC BASIS
IN MANY DECADES
Larger Workings Have Been
Developed Along More
Scientific Lines
FEWER MEN ARE EMPLOYED
increased Projects Showed In
crease From 74o in 1929
to 627 in 1929
FEWER MEN ARE EMPLOYED
BY FREDRIC J. HASKIN

by FREDRIC J. HASKIN
Washington, D. c., March 9.-Thc
bltuminouS coal mining industry has
been going through the most drastic
period Of reorganization of any ma
Jor industry in the United States and
is on a 5ounder economic basis than
it has been in many decades, accord
ing to a survey which has just been
completed by Ethelbert Stewart. Unit
ed States Commissioner of Labor Sta
tistics.
Long regarded as wastefully con-
Quoted, the industry has been forced
~ the pressure Of the times to clean
house. High cost mines have been
forced out of the picture while the
larger workings have been developed
along o scientific lines.
Except for the period of the World
war when every sort Of fuel was bad
ly needed, the bituminous coal indus
try has been seriously over-produced.
This was true before the depression
OF 1890 began. The competition of
electric power in manufacturing
which reduced the demand for fuel
Oil and natural gas for steam had
been steadily pressing the bitumin-
GU coal industry into a position of
diminished Importance.
The full measure of the recession
which has taken place is shown by
compilations which Commissioner
Stewart has just completed. In 1923
there were 1881 bituminous coal
mines operating in the United States
and reporting to the Bureau of Mines.
In 1929, the latest year for which
full and accurate figures have been
checked, there were only 6057 mines
Il, operation. This represents a de-
crease of IS per cent.
The decrease. however, was chiefly
In the number of low grade, high
cost mines. Mine operators have fol-
lowed the policy Of concentrating
the efforts on the development of
the larger mines having richer seams.
Where a company owns extensive
coal properties, those workings most
difficult to operate are closed down.
Declines In All Groups
In the class Of mines producing
from 100000 to 200, 900 tons Of btu
Eainous coal a year there was, be-
tween 1923 and 1929. a decrease from
935 to $50 in the number of those
operated. This was 29.4 per cent.
There were in 1923 mines producing
between $4,000 and 100, 900 tons of
coal to the number Of 1176. BY 1929
these had decreased to 668 or 49, per
rent Thu oyoofncf Inolino tonl, ~Jooo
IN the group of mines producing be-
tween 10000 and $4,000 tons a year.
1r 1923 there were 2742 of these mines
il operation; in 1929 only 1861. Here
was d decrease of 50.4 per cent. In
the group producing less than 10000
the decrease was from $3.50 in 1923 to
c54l in 1929 or 31.9 per cent.
Against these sharp declines in
every group producing less than 300.
Geo tens must be set the large mines
with output in exces of that figure.
The number OF these mines increased
from TAB in 1923 to S27 in 1929. This
was q gain of l0.6 per cent.
Some Of these large mines produce
at the rate of more than ]. ZOO. 900 tons
a year. There is a large measure of
economy in concentrating mining
operations at n large producer
rather than distributing effort over
several smaller mines yielding in the
aggregate the same tonnage OF coal.
Each mine must be a complete unit.
A $4,000 ton mine must have about
the same equipment as a 1000, 900
ten mine. Sidings and spurs must
be constructed from the main line of
railroad which carries the coal away.
Breakers must be maintained to
handle the output of the small mine
as well a. the large. Each mine,
large or small, must have its power
plant for pumping and lighting. oper-
alton of shaft lifts, and general utili-
ty.
The consumption of coal has not
diminished in the period since 1923
appreciably. But in view of the fact
that during that period there was an
increase in population of about Is
pei cent and a far greater percentage
advance in manufacturing produc-
tivity, the fact that the bituminous
coal mining industry has not in
creased along with other factors is
tantamount to a recession.
Work With Fewer Employees
The year 1920 was one Of tremend-
industrial activity. In that year
came the crest Of the postwar boom.
Bltuminous coal production amount
&c to 568, 667 900 tons. BY 1925 this
figure was down to $50, O53 900 tons
although in that year industry was
moving at a brisk pace. Use of cleo
tr.c power, though. was greatly on
the increase. In 1928, distinctly a
boom year, production was down to