ABSTRACT
This chapter offers justification for, differences in the production and the employment figures on which the reinterpretations, and reinforces the conclusions prompted by the new estimates. It presents annual regional production estimates for the period 1830–1913 and explains the regional differences in output per man year (OMY) between 1831 and 1871 and explores explanations for the trends. The chapter outlines the significance for an inteipretation of the industry’s performance after 1870 of productivity measured by output per man hour rather than by measures of yearly shift productivity. New estimates of productivity measured by OMY before 1872 are straight-line projections for employment between census years combined with production estimates, which when compared with other series available for certain years reveal important differences. The productivity movements described by Mitchell after 1870 derived from the division of output by the statutory employment returns to the Mines Inspectors under the Coal Mines Regulation Act of 1872.
