Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1898 — PASS THE 200,000,000 TON MARK [ARTICLE]

PASS THE 200,000,000 TON MARK

Coal Production of United States I* Larger than Ever. From advance proofs of the report of the geological survey it is learned the coal production of the United States in 1897 reached 200,221,665 short tons, worth at the mines $198,869,178. This is the first time the 200,000,000 ton mark has been passed. Colorado and New Mexico furnished 69,076 short tons of anthracite last year. Including Alaska, thirty-one States and territories produce coal, Idaho and Nebraska furnishing but 64ft tons. Pennsylvania continues to rank first, with an output of 54,597,851 tons of bituminous and 52,431,763 tons of anthracite; Illinois second. West Virginia increased her lead over Ohio more than 2,000,000 tons, taking third place; Ohioicomes fourth, Ala-, bama fifth, lowa sixth, Maryland seventh, then Kentucky, Colorado and Kansas in the order named. The number of mines and product last year of the Western States were: Mines. Tons. Alabama 78 5,898,770 Colorado 97 3,361,703 Illinois 310 20,072.758 Indiana 115 4,151,169 Indian territory 19 1,336,380 lowa ~162 : 4,611,865 Kansas 71 3,054,012 Missouri 105 2,665,626 Illinois suffered most from strikes of miners, 266 mines being affected. The total number of working days lost there are calculated at 2,660,334, an average of 101 days to each of the 26,407 mines idle. Pennsylvania was the next sufferer, with strikes at 118 mines, at which 29,112 men were idle 72 days and a total of 2,102,386 working days lost. Ohio had 228 mines shut down, 21,685 men idle 78 days each, or a total of 1,690,549 working days. Missouri Buffered slightly, having eleven mines on strike, involving 833 men- 21 days each, or a total of 16,844 working days.