Show anthracite COAL IN 1915 production of anthracite in 1915 as shown by the final figures compiled by C C lesher of the united states geological survey from returns made by the operators was gross tons differing from the estimate of tons published last january by less than one half of 1 per cent the value of this output was an average of per ton a value slightly higher than the average in 1914 compared with the figures for 1914 those for 1915 show a de crease of 2 per cent in quantity and 19 per cent in value anthracite is used mainly as a domestic do mestie fuel and the mild weather during the early months of 1915 resulted in a decrease in consumption A falling off in the exports to canada which normally takes a large quantity and light buying by householders and retail yards in this country during the summer period of low prices were also factors factora contributing to this decrease there were men employed in the anthracite mines in 1915 a greater number than in any year except 1914 when there were the average number of days these men worked was as compared with in 1914 and the number of tons produced per man per year was and per man per day as against tons p fsr r year and tons per day in 1914 the smaller number of days worked together with the comparatively large number of men employed indicate that the work during the slack months was divided by the companies among a greater number of men than was necessary in order to assist all As in 1914 there were few strikes only 30 men having been involved in 1915 for an average of seven days each there were machines used in underground mining of anthracite in 1915 and fifty seven steam shovels were used on the surface tons having been taken from steam shovel pits during the year the steam shovels are nearly all used in ill the schuylkill and lehigh regions and the dicing machines in the wyoming region |