Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1898 — COAL OUTPUT FOR THE YEAR. [ARTICLE]

COAL OUTPUT FOR THE YEAR.

Statistics for 1897 Show Increased Tonnut?e and Value. From a prelimTnary statement compiled by E. W, Parker, statistician of the United States geological survey, it is shown that the total output of coal in the United States in 1597 amounted approximately to 198,250,000 short tons, with an aggregate value of $198,100,000, a fraction less than $1 per ton. Compared with IS9G this shows an increase in tonnage of 0,270,000 tons .-or about 3.3 per cent. The increase in the value of the product was only $1,700,000, a little less than .9 per cent. In twenty out of the twenty-nine States producing bituminous coal, the average price per ton in 1897 was less than it was in 1890, the general average for the United States being 83 cents in 1890 and 81.0 in 1597. The decline of 1.4 cents on a total product in 1897 of 140,000,000 tons represents a decrease of something over $2,000,000 from what would have been the value if the price had been the same as it was in 1890.

Considering the industry by States, Pennsylvania holds her usual position. The combined product of anthracite and bituminous coals from the Keystone State amounted to 106,000,000 short Jons, pearly 54 per cent of the total output. Pennsylvania’s percentage total bituminous output was 37 per cent, her output of soft coal being 54,000,000 tons. Illinois remains in second place, with a total of over 20,000,000 short tons. West Virginia comes third, having increased her output nearly 7,000,000 tons over 1896 and leading Ohio, which comes fourth, by nearly 1,250,000 tons. Alabama reached her maximum output of 5,893,770 tons and stands fifth. lowa, sixth, lacked only 85,000 tons of reaching 5,000,000 tons. Maryland produced 4,442,000 tons and Indiana a little over 4,000,000 tons. Reports received from the interior valleys of California confirm previous reports that severe frosts have done irreparable damage to fruit. Apricots and nectarinesi have suffered most severely, and in many places the crop has been entirely destroyed. The original copy of the Declaration of Independence in k Jefferson’s own. handwriting has just been found amorig the archives of the American Philosophical Soqrty in Philadelphia. . ■: ' : - ' * AVi >