The Fuel Products
125
Outside of the three main coal fields, some of the deposits in the
United States, such as-those of the Pacific slope, are not large
enough to satisfy local needs. Others, such as some of the Utah
deposits, are so deep in the earth that for many years to come it will
not pay to work them. In some regions, like parts of eastern Ken-
tucky, the coal fields are rich and easy to work, but the rugged relief
makes transportation so difficult that to carry the coal where it can be
used costs more than it is worth. The quality of other deposits,
such as those extending from Iowa to Texas, is inferior.
In the inferior deposits a great deal of rock, especially slate, is
mixed with the coal. With good coal only a little slate is usually found,
and an attempt is made to take this from the coal at the mine. After
anthracite coal has been broken and graded according to size, it is
shaken in such a way as to separate the shale from the coal, but a great
deal reaches the consumer.
Why cities grow up near coal mines. Coal is so important for the
manufacturing industries in general and for the smelting and manu-
facturing of iron in particular, that it is not surprising to find these
industries clustering around the mines. Hence the great iron and
steel city of Pittsburgh is located among the bituminous coal mines
of western Pennsylvania. In the same way, Scranton, which also
“HE WOLw
"TION OF COAL
Min
IONS OF METRIC TONS
Fig. 99. The eastern half of the United States and northwestern Europe produce most of the
coal used in the world. They are also the regions where the machine industries are most highly
developed, and most of the steamships in the world are owned in their ports. What connection
has the production of coal with industries and shipping? Why are Sweden, France, Spain,
and Italy especially interested in methods of utilizing water power for industries? Remember-
ing that coal and iron are the basis of modern industry, compare this map with Figure 86 (page
114) to find out one reason for Great Britain's leading position in commerce and industry.
