Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-12-23
Mineral Report.

The annual report OF the Hon. CnaS
K. Wright, commissioner of mineral sta
tistics is one of the most interesting
documents that has been published In
the state. 1t opens with description
of gypsum Quarries, which the report
saws Though limited to few localities 4
are of sufficient extent and accessibility
to suffice for all the demands that may
be made upon them for the future" Inc
most extensive of these deposits are In
Kent and IoscO counties. An analysis
of Michigan gypsum shows IL compost
ton to be: ~
Sulphuric acic, 46 pounds in 100.
Lime, 33 pounds in 100.
Water of crystalzation, 81 pounds in
100.
The product of land plaster from those
uuarries last year was 81, 720 barrels and
the total product since 1866 was 652,6SO
barrels. 80
OF stuccO the product was 1888 bar
rels last year and 1,O76,655 barrels since
| 1868.
The coal fields of Michigan are sup
posed to occupy an area comprising
about one-fifth OF the central portion of
the lower peninsula. The field lies in a
circle with a radius of so miles, having
its center near the village of st. Louis
i'm Gratiot county. The output of the
mines of Jackson county in 1881 was
130, $50 tons.
| Numerous sandstone quarries have
been opened in Jackson county. Some
of it is of very fine and firm texture and
has been pronounced first-class building
stone. At Napoleon, Jackson county,
there is an extensive quarry of gray
sandstone which furnishes both tagging
and building stone of excellent quality:
"SOme of these beds have firmness and
sharpness of grit to answer for grind
stones and the stone has beer. used for
this purpose to a considerable extent"
Clay OF excellent quality is found In
jackson county. In quantity it is I'M
limited. And it is unsurpassed as
material for the manufacture of sewer
,, pipe and fire brick.
The copper product of the Lake SUI
{ perior mines in 1880 is given at 5l,O9l.-
1888 pounds. The report says the world
production of copper is about as follows
Chill and Peru, $4,000 tons; United
States. %. 500 tons; Australia, 1880 tons
, Russia, $500 tons; England, BOO ton
making an aggregate of 1O3.oO tone.
The copper product of Michigan IN,
creased in the decade following 1870 lit
per cent. In WelRnU anu W pei Ooho IL
, value; the number of employees increas
ed 10 per cent, the capital employed in
< creased 1913 per cent. The same labo
Q which in 1870 produced 4,3S7 pounds, o
r copper now produces S,344 pounds. Thi
is accounted for by the increased use o
. machinery, power drills and the Tx
7 and the improvement in explosives.
o OF IA mines reported in 1881 only nv
q paid dividends. anna
q The commissioner says: "The Calu
= met and Hecla copper mine stands a
Il the head of the worlds mining enter
l. prises, having paid more In dividend
q in proportion to the investment thai
) any other mine of ancient or moder
times a. =.
The salt product of the stat
= for 1881 was 2.750,299 barrels agains
2.276.5S8 in 1880. In 1881 twelve bias
le furnaces were in operation with a tots
n output of about 10000 tons OF pig mel
a al. In the same year 55 iron mills WEI
20 worked, their total output being 2,l2O
:. 1926 tons; of this 1881 ,2l5 tons came froI
y, the Marquette district.-Detron Po
pt and Tribune