COAL - Clpdigital.org

2.S THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
not certain to be on the route are organizing com­
mittees and raising large sums to influence those
back of the movement. Subscriptions aggregat­
ing a million of dollars were obtained in a day.
What was recently regarded as visionary and im­
practicable is now recognized as a necessity. One
of the most hopeful signs of the times is the ten­
dency to consider and build for the future. The
development of this tendency means ultimately
assurance of American supremacy throughout the
world. The spirit of industry has awakened the
country. The realization has come to those at
the head of great affairs that there is neither
safety nor profit in merely meeting the needs of
the moment. Each generation leaves a material
debt to posterity and owes it a moral one. The
present generation is paving the way to balance
the account. The completion by it of projects
like the ship canal will give its successor oppor­
tunities and advantages which it did not enjoy,
but which it is nevertheless its duty to provide
for the future.
* * *
WHATEVER THE RESULT, the situation in Illinois
is not without its lesson. The day the shot firers'
law went into effect 45,000 men laid down their
tools. In that point lies the importance of the
matter. The time lost by these men amounts to
more in money than the wages of the shot firers
will amount to in ten years. What is lost is gone
for good. No difference what the arbitrators de­
cide it could not restore the loss. Somebody else
will profit to a certain extent and consumers of
coal will not suffer. The coal business on the
whole is perhaps benefited, but the trade neither
expects nor desires to be benefited in one part at
the expense of another. The cost should be
counted and well considered before disputes which
are bound to result in loss are entered into.
The men detailed to act as bakers at an almshouse,
near Jersey City, elected a walking delegate,
who notified the county board that his fellows
would not knead the almshouse dough until
their names were put on the pay roll with the attendants
and other employes. The committee
informed the strikers that they would be put to
work in the quarries if they did not return to
work in the bake shop, and the trouble came to an
end instanter.
COAL PRODUCTION IN KENTUCKY IN 1904, AS
SHOWN BY THE REPORT OF CHIEF
MINE INSPECTOR NORWOOD.
Following is a summary of the statistics prepared
by C. J. Norwood, chief inspector of mines,
relating to the production of commercial coal by
the Kentucky mines during the year 1904, fur-'
nished in advance of the publication of the report
of the inspector, which is to be issued within a
short time. The total production of all coal
workings, including small country and "family"
banks as well as the commercial mines, as reported
by the United States geographical survey,
amounted to 7.559,940 short tons. The state mine
inspector, however, deals only with the commercial
mines. According to the monthly returns
made to the mine inspector's office, the production
of commercial coal amounted to 7,167,324 short
tons, in which are included 68,400 tons of cannel
coal.
The following table shows the tons produced
by each of the three mining districts, together
with the disposition of the product:
Sold Csed at
District Loca'lv .Mine Coked Shipped
Western 165,657 114,576 86,2SS 3,375,043
Southeast ....30,983 41,621 10,369 2,348,152
Northeast 4,366 6,226 39,316 564,727
Totals 201,006 162,423 135,973 6,667,923
Compared with the output for 1903 (7,198,251),
the figures for 1904 show a net decrease of 30,927
tons. Had the source of production been only
the mines that were operating in 1903, the net
loss would have been much greater. The loss
was kept down by contributions from 15 new
mines.
The decrease in the Northeastern district was
due in part to strikes in Boyd, Carter and Lee
counties, but also in part to the strong competition
in the home markets from West Virginia
mines, the interests of which are understood to
be fostered by the C. & O. railroad. In the Western
district the loss was chiefly due to the less
favorable market conditions than existed in 1903.
A decrease in the demand for coke also affected
the output.
The home consumption of the coal mined
amounted to 55.26 per cent, of the output (i. e.,
3,951,151 tons), 3,216,173 tons having been shipped
to points outside the state.
The total selling value of the commercial product
(bituminous and cannel) amounted to $7,-
122,563, giving an average of 99.37 cents per ton.
The average value of the bituminous alone was
98.51 cents per ton. The selling value of cannel
varied considerably, according to quality and markets
served. The average was about $2.03. Compared
with prices obtained in 1903, the figures for