1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. BUREAU OF MINES. xliii
the present time many of the deposits have merely been skinned.
There is a large deposit of coal still remaining above water level,
giving the best possible conditions for economic mining. Thirdly,
the problem of machine mining has, to a great extent, been solved,
and an economic use of machines is an assured fact. The average
output for a miner in America is fully 70 per cent, more than in the
British mines, not because we have necessarily better miners, for
until recently the bone and sinew of every coal mining community
was its English and Welsh miners, but by longer hours, and better
appliances, the output per man has been greatly increased. Fifth,
the transportation problem has been solved, and coal is carried now
from the mines to the seaboard at a rate which is much less than
prevails in any of the European countries.
This being the case, the problem hinges upon the transport of coal
from the Atlantic seaboard to the European ports, and as this same
problem has been solved for other commodities, it is perfectly reasonable
to assume that it will be solved for this commodity as well,
and that as soon as our business men are assured of a steady foreign
market, the transportation problem will be solved.
While at present attention is centered on European markets.
Mexico. Central and South America must not be forgotten, and the
trade which has already sprung up with those countries can be
greatly increased.
The present conditions in Europe are somewhat abnormal and will
probably not continue as at present, so that our coal men must not
base all
their estimates on figures secured in the past two or three
years.
Although the above reasoning applies to the whole United States,
it applies equally and with full force to Pennsylvania, which has
been for many years, and will probably continue to be, the great coal
storehouse of the United States.
Briefly stated, the facts are these:
There is undoubtedly a market
for coal in many of the European countries which will probably increase.
This market is now supplied with British coal. The demand
for coal for home consumption in England will probably prevent
the extension of her foreign markets materially and the decrease
of the cosi of coal in these markets. The United States has
plenty of good coal, and wherever sin 1 can undersell the British, the
market should be hers.
THE GREAT STRIKE IX THE ANTHRACITE COALMINES.
The strike in the Anthracite coal regions during the year 1900
while not specially bearing upon what usually constitutes the basis
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