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SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT ON
COAL PRODUCTION IN 1904.
The United States geological survey recently
made public a supplementary report showing the
production of coal in the United States in 1904.
The most important feature connected with the
coal mining industry in 1904 was the reaction
from the high level of prices and the consequently
large total value of the product which
made 1903 a notable year in the history of mining.
The statistics in the report give the production in
1904 as less than that of 1903, but the decrease
was insignificant when considered with the extraordinary
conditions of the preceding year.
The total production of coal in 1904 was 352,ri0,427
short tons, valued at $444,816,288. Compared
with 1903 the total output of all kinds of
coal in 1904 shows a decrease of 5,045,989 tons.
The total production of bituminous coal in Pennsylvania
in 1904 was 97.952,267 short tons, valued
pt $94,434,219 which, compared with 1903, when
the output was 103.117,178 short tons, worth $121.-
752,759, shows a decrease of 5,164,911 short tons,
or 5 per cent, in quantity and of $27,318,540 or
22.4 per cent, in value.
The average price per ton declined from $1.18
to 96 cents. As was the case generally throughout
the coal producing states the returns from
Pennsylvania show an increase in the number
of employes in both the bituminous and anthracite
regions in spite of decreased production in
each. The number of men employed in the
bituminous mines of the state increased from
129.265 in 1903 to 135,125 in 1904. while the average
working time decreased from 235 days in 1903
to 196 days in 1904.
The majority of the bituminous mines in Pennsylvania
were worked eight hours a day during
1904, 637 mines employing 77,960 men or considerably
more than 50 per cent, of the total reporting
eight hours as the length of the working
day. Twenty-five counties contributed to the
bituminous coal product of Pennsylvania in 1904.
Of these, four, namely Allegheny, Cambria, Fayette
and Westmoreland each produced over 10,-
000,000 tons, and the last two each produced more
coal in 1904 than any state except Ohio, Illinois
and West Virginia. Of the 25 counties producing
bituminous coal in Pennsylvania in 1904, there
were only five in which the production exceeded
that of 1903, while 20 showed decreases.
The most notable falling off was in Clearfield
county, whose output decreased 1,715,812 tons.
The most important gain was made by Indiana
county, whose production increased 640,811 tons.
As usual Pennsylvania is first in the list of coal
producing states. In West Virginia during 1904
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 47
there were produced 32,602,819 tons valued at $28,-
S07.420. Ohio ranks fourth as a coal producing
state, having produced 24,434,312 tons of coal ; in
1904, valued at $26,588,476.
RECENT COAL TRADE PATENTS.
The following recently granted patents of interest
to the coal trade, are reported expressly
for THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN by J. M. Nesbit,
patent attorney. Park building, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
from whom printed copies may be procured for
15 cents each:
Coal chute, C. W. Hunt and C. C. King, New
York; No. 796,074.
Drill bit rotating mechanism for rock drilling
machines. J. G. Leyner, Denver, Colo.; No. 796.081.
Self-oiling wheel for mine cars. J. F. Weisbrod.
Allegheny, and J. D. Rhodes, Sewickley. Pa.; No.
796,096.
Blast loading device, Egbert Cornelius and B. G.
Cope. Orrville, O.; No. 796,192.
Rock drill, E. R. Langford. Los Angeles, Cal.;
No. 796,228.
Attachment for rock drills, Martin Hardsocg, Ottumwa,
Iowa; No. 796,327.
Art of mining coal f2), Clarence R. Claghorn,
Vintondale. Pa.; Nos. 796,498 and 796.499.
Miner's lamp, W. J. Rump, Ravine, Pa.; No.
796,870.
Mining apparatus, Alexander M^Dougall, Duluth,
Minn.; No. 797,06S.
Elevator for loading and unloading coal, G. E.
Holland and Henry Johnston. Rangoon, Burma,
Indian assignors to the Holland Johnston Patents,
Limited, London, England; No. 797,116.
Automatic mine door operating device, A. C. Urban,
Buxton, Iowa; No. 797.540.
Labor Day Fares.
September 4th excursion tickets will be sold
from all ticket stations on the Pennsylvania Lines
to any station on those lines fifty miles or less
from selling point. Return coupons good until
September 5th. Inquire of Pennsylvania Lines
Ticket Agents for further information.
Coal development is making progress on the
Yukon river, three mines being in operation along
the stream. One of the mines is located 550
miles from the mouth of the river.
A rich coal strike was made recently near Lingan,
Nova Scotia, which shows 6 feet of clean coal
land, area of about 100 square miles, or 619,520,000
tons.