Coal production of New Mexico for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901—Continued. The production for the previous fiscal year, ending June 30, 1900, was 1,187,334 tons. This shows but a slight increase in production, 30,196 tons. Scarcity of miners restricted the production at all the coal mines in the Territory. The miners' strike at Gallup, N. Mex., caused a loss in production at the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company's mines of 150.000 tons and at the W. A. Clark mine 5,000 tons, and at the Rocky Cliff mine 20,000 tons, as this mine was practically shut down one-half of the year by reason of the strike. Had the strike not interfered with the operations of these prominent mines, the increase in production would have been 205,196 tons, even with the inadequate labor supply at hand; and were a full complement of miners obtainable, the increase would assuredly have been from 50 to 100 per cent over the previous fiscal year. These calculations are fully sustained by reason of the great demand for coal made by the transportation companies, the railroads confiscating all coal produced; and on the other hand, the coal was already developed in the mines and ready for extraction. The only factor lacking to insure the increase of production mentioned was the labor to mine the coal. EMPLOYEES. The following tabulated statement shows the number of miners, laborers, and boys employed in and about the coal mines of the Territory of New Mexico during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901: By comparison with the preceding fiscal year the above table shows a decrease of 145 in number of employees, 135 less miners, and 10 boys. The decrease in number of employees was due solely to the scarcity of miners. Nearly all of the more important operators have agents in different coal-mining sections of the United States and British possessions seeking to employ miners and paying their fare and expenses to New Mexico. There were reported to me, as United States mine inspector, 9 fatal accidents during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901. The causes to which the fatalities were attributed were as follows: By dust explosion, 3; fall of rock, 2; fall of top coal, 1; by pit car, 1; struck by swaying timber in construction of new tipple, 1; thrown over fly wheel while starting engine off center with head of steam on, 1. Only 11 nonfatal accidents have been reported to this office during the fiscal year. Knowing to almost a positive certainty that this is an incomplete list. I believe it would be an injustice to the managers of the mines where these accidents occurred to publish the list, while others would make a more creditable showing who have declined to report such accidents, as there is no specific requirement to do so in the law; hence I refrain from reporting details for publication. PRODUCTION OF COKE DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1901. At the ovens of the Raton Coal and Coke Company, Gardiner, Colfax County, N. Mex., there were produced from coal mined from Blossburg mines Nos. 5 and 6, 21,361.30 tons of coke of an estimated value of $2.50 per ton at the ovens; total value $53,403.25. At the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company's ovens at Waldo, Santa Fe County, N. Mex., there were produced from coal mined at Starkville, Las Animas County, Colo., 21,371 tons. The production of coke from New Mexico coal fields will be largely increased in the near future. The New Mexico Fuel Company is erecting 100 coke ovens at the Dawson mine, Colfax County, N. Mex. Several other mine owners contemplate the building of coke ovens. ANALYSIS OF NEW MEXICO COAL. M'KINLEY COUNTY. Analysis of coal from Catalpa mine, near Gallup, McKinley County, N. Mex. [Owned and operated by Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.] Analysis of coal from Weaver mine at Gibson, near Gallup, McKinley County, No. 3 seam: N. Mex. [Owned and operated by Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.] per cent.. 9.13 38.45 .do.... 49.43 .do.... 2.99 100.00 per cent.. 8.23 do.... 40.61 do.... 45.17 do.... 5.99 .do.... 100.00 The Gallup mine is being operated upon the same coal seams as the Weaver mine, viz, No. 3 and No. 5; and analysis of coal is similar to that given above for those seas. COLFAX COUNTY. Analysis of coal and coke produced from Raton Coal and Coke Company's mines at Raton, Colfax County, N. Mex. |