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COM/IRADE BULLETIN^
Vol. XII. PITTSBURGH, PA., DECEMBER 1, 1904. No. 1
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN;
PUBLISHED TWICE A MONTH.
Copyrighted by TIIE COAI. TRADE COMPANY, 1904
A. R. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
H. J. STRAUB, Managing Editor.
SUBSCRIPTION, - - - - $2.00 A YEAR.
Correspondence and communications upon all matters
relating to coal or coal production are invited.
All communications and remittances to
THK COAL TKADK COMPANY.
92G-930 PARK BUILDING, PITTSBUHGH, PA.
Long Distance Telephone 2.">0 Grant.
[Entered at the Post Office at Pittsburgh, ra., as
Second Class Mail Matter.]
THE EFFECT OF LABOR UNION AGITATION
ON THE PRODUCTION OF COAL, AND THE
IRREPARABLE LOSSES OCCASIONED, AS
SHOWN BY A GOVERNMENT REPORT.
The report of the government geological survey,
now on press, presents a striking example, in the
section of the report devoted to West Virginia, of
the effect of labor agitation on the production of
eoal. In 1902, a year in which there was no
abnormal demand for soft coal, the state of West
Virginia was exploited by lalior agitators throughout
the year, with the result that the increased
output of coal for the year exceeded that of the
previous year by barely 500,000 short tons. Had
it not been for the labor troubles in the state the
production would probably have shown an increase
of ten times this amount.
In 1903 there were no lahor troubles of consequence
in West Virginia and despite the general
falling off in the demand for coal, as compared
with the previous year, the production was increased
hy 4,766,415 short tons, or 19 per cent, in
quantity and of $9,548,361 in value over 1902. The
average price per ton advanced from $1.01. in
1902, to $1.17 in 1903. This advance in price in
connection with the increased production places
West Virginia as third in rank in the value of
the coal produced as well as in amount. Prior
to 1903 Ohio, while ranking fourth in amount of
production, exceeded West Virginia in tlie value
of the product.
One of the interesting features in connection
with the coal mining industry of AVest Virginia
has been the increase in the use of mining machines
and of the amount of coal produced thereby.
In 1898 there were only 86 machines in use in
the state; in 1903 there were 7S3 machines in use.
In 1898 the machine mined tonnage was 1.323,929
short tons; in 1903 it amounted to 8,193,840 short
tons. Compared with 1902 the number of machines
in use showed an increase of 209, and the
machine mined product an increase of 2.455.795
short tons.
The statistics of labor employed in the state
show that in 1902 35,500 men were employed for
an average of 205 days, producing an average of
692 tons per man foi' the year, and 3.38 tons per
man per day. In 1903, 41.544 men were employed
for an average of 210 days, and produced an average
of 706 tons per man for the year and 3.36 per
man per day. The average time made for the day
in 1903 was nine liours.
EARNEST REVIVAL OF LAKE ERIE
CSt, OHIO RIVER SHIP CANAL PROJECT.
Leading business men of Pittsburgh are aggressively
working to accomplish the project of a
Lake Erie & Ohio River Ship Canal. This farreaching
industrial scheme has been in abeyance
for nearly ten years and is now being revived
with excellent prospects of accomplishment. The
Merchants & Manufacturers Association of Pittsburgh
is booming the plan. At a banquet November
29 attended b.v 250 members of this association,
Congressman John Dalzell declared:
"I verily believe that before the Fifty-ninth
Congress completes its work this bill giving a
Federal charter to the Lake Erie & Ohio River
Ship Canal will have become a law, and by your
influence the waterway will be constructed. Then
1 see no reason why the prophecy of Andrew Carnegie
should not become a reality, and Pittsburgh