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