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Show B "SHOOTING OFF THE SOLID" B' Large Proportion of Illinois Coal So B'. Mined f1. - H:; Of tho production of G9,885,22G BBW short tuna of co.il lu Illinois In 1912 ! 1(878,049 tons, or it. 9 per cent, wero mined by machines; 7,G7G,S03 tons, or 12. S per cent, wero pick mined, and IIUUD.OIO tons or 40.3 per cent . woro shot off tlw solid, according to B K. W. Parker of the United States B Geological Sifrvey. In 1911 45. G per BSBi cent or tho total Illinois product was B. niaclilna mined, and 10.3 percent was Hji Bbotoft! tho solid. Tlioso figures show Bt that a comparatively small proportion B or Illinois coal Is hand mined and W tho rcbittvoly largo amount "powder P mined" Is discreditable) and lnexcus- l'1 ablo. tu tli 8 respect Illinois stands B In unfavorable comparison with West B Virginia, where less than I per cent B or Uio production In 1912 was shot oft B tho solid. Tho largr p oportton of B maclitno mined t nnugj 'n 1912 Is K 1 gratifying and bea-s out Mr Park- B j cr'H statement, lu the Survey coal re- B t port for 1911 tlia' t-p I'lluo't oprnt- BBS! i ors wero determined to reduce as B! much as possible the pernicious prnc- Bj t ilea of "making the powdsr do tho Bi ' work." Tho flat lying character tf ! ', tbo Illinois beds Is favorablo to r;i- J J, chlno m nliig and there appeals to bs 1 r no good reason for permitting solid B . shooting to continue The nimibo "1 of mining machines lu use !urreaed Hr I from 1,402 In 1911 to 1,054 In 1912. |