The Story of American Coals (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1896 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIII. CONCLUSION. When we review the preceding pages the most astonishing fact presented to our notice is the wonderful growth of our coal tonnage in so short a period of time. In fifty years the United States has advanced in the production of coal from 3,000,000 tons in 1845 to 182,000,000 tons in 1895; thus fulfilling the many predictions made at a time when our insignificant tonnage would scarcely have seemed to warrant them. The material increase has been made in even less time. In 1866 our total production of coal was "less than 15,000,000 tons," while in the same year Great Britain produced 100,000,000 tons; but at that time the prediction was made by L. Simonin: "America with her immense coal-fields is destined to become eventually the great coal-producer of the world." Instead of fifty, we therefore have thirty years as nearer the actual time in which this remarkable coal development in our country has taken place. This coal has practically all been consumed at home and without invading "the markets of the world." I have prepared the following table from various sources, showing the world's progress in the devel-opment of coal during the same period: 1845. 1895. Great Britain.... 34,754,750 184,044,890 United States.... 3,763,013 182,352,774 Germany 6,500,000 103,851,090 France 4,141,617 28,862,017 Austria 700,000 28,037,678 Belgium 4,447,240 21,590,448 Russia 600,000 7,621,969 Canada 100,000 3,719,170 Japan........ 100,000 3,400,000 Spain 50,000 1,688,820 New Zealand.... 1,000 673,315 Sweden 60,000 421,155 Italy 10,000 326,340 Net tons.... 55,227,620 566,589,666 In Europe, Germany is developing its coal pro-duction more rapidly than the other countries, and Great Britain less. In 1890 Germany's produc-tion of coal was 79,000,000 tons, and...