The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-15
MINERAL PRODUCTS.
Statistics Concerning a Years
Output Of Our Mines.
The United States Leading the
World in Mineral Resources.

DIR. David T. Day, Chief of the Division Of
the Mining Statistics, has submitted to the
Director Of the United States Geological Sur
vey a statement of the mineral product Of
the United States in 1887, in advance OF the
official report, Mineral Resources Of the
United States, 1887" The total value Of
the mineral products is S53S, ,056, 345;
it shows a wonderful gain over 1885,
and is slOo, 600, 600 greater than the output Of
the production Of minerals. The principal
gains in 1887 were In metallic ores and the
fuels for smelling them Pig iron alone in
creased more than see, coo, 900, and the high
price of copper caused notable expansion in
that industry. The product Of coal is the
largest ever recorded. Taken as q
whole, the report shows a year OF great
prosperity for the mining industry.
The great total value Of more than hall
billion dollars, the report says, resulted not
only from an increase in the quantity OF min.
erals mined, but also from general ad vance
in the prices Of metals 1t may be several
years before this total is exceeded. and the
year 1883 will fall considerably below it.
Among many reasons for the decrease this
year is the decline in railroad building. The
principal items are:
Iron-DomeStic ore consumed about IL.
100000 long tons: value at mines, S33, ,9O0,.
600: an increase over 1888 of 200, 90 tons in
quantity and &, 900, 600 in value. Imported
iron ore consumed, l, 1874, ,301 long tons; total
iron ore consumed in 1857 about Il, 49,, ,30I
long tons, or l As, 1853 tons more than in 1886.
Pig iron made, GAIT, ,14S long tons; value at
furnace, $12l ,925, 500. This is an increase
over 1885 Of 7333, ,819 tons in quantity and $780,
7S0,040 in value Steel of all kinds produced,
1885, OIL long tons, an increase of TIC $50 tons
over 1886; value at works, $103, ,S11 900.
Gold and Silver-Total value Of gold pro.
duced in 1887, $35, ,000, 5000, decrease Of
$500, ,oOo from 1876. Silver increased from
value) in 1887.
Copper-Production 1Sl, ,67O ,524 pounds, of
which 8, ,750,oOo pounds were made from i'm.
ported pyrites Total value, s21, ,052, ,440.
Lead-Production, 10000 short tons,
valued at s14, ,46s, 900. The heavy increase Of
"desilverized" lead from ia, ,S29 short tons in
1856 to 49,, $50 in 1887 was probably due to
the importation Of Mexican lead silver ores.
Coal-Total output, including colliery con.
sumption, was: Pennsylvania anthracite,
37.578, 747 long tons; an increase over 1856 Of
2,725, $40 long tons, or Al, ,08S, 1N short tons;
an increase Of 3,052, Isl short tons. All other
Goals, S7,837, 800 short tons; an increase Of
Il, 129, 403 tons, making the total output OF
ali Goals from mines in the United States, ex-
elusive Of slack coal thrown on the dumps,
129 925, ,557 short tons; an increase of II, lS2,-
154 tons, valued as follows: Anthracite,
SS4, $50, 1871: an increase of s., ,4S3. .0Sl.
Bituminous, s97, ,939, ,656: an increase of Sl9,-
ASS GOO. Total value, sls2, ,4sl 1897; an increase
Of s27, ,S91, ,661. All this shows notable in
crease over 1886.
Coke-Total production, 1857, ,4S7 short
tons, valued at SIS, ,723, ,574, being 1,022, ,419
tons greater than in 1885.
Natural Gas-Production equivalent to g.
055, 5000 short tons Of coal displaced: value,
$1S, 5S2, 500, as against 6,S56, ,0o0 TONS worth
$9.S47, $50 in 1885,
This marked increase Of Sc ZOO, 900 shows
that the statement for 1856 was too small.
Brick and Tile-Value, $40, ,000. 900, an in.
crease Of about 13 per cent. in the produc.
ton Of brick and q decrease in tile.
Lime-46 750, 900 barrels, average value OF
so centsa barrel; increase for the year OF l0
per cent.
Cement-e, e92, 744 barrels, valued at $5,-
1S6,ST; increase, 81, 1857
Precious Stonfe-Th value Of American
beside gold quartz for specimens and gems
valued at $75,O
Salt, S31 ,962 barrels tof 2s0 poundeJ,
value 81, ,0J3, $40. TIE annual production has
increased each year>since 1888, but the total
value has declined, being less in 1887 than
1884, although only 6,5l4, ,937 barrels were
made in that year.
Bora1-Production 100000 pounds, all
from California and Nevada Total value
$3.50, 600, at five cents pound for the average
grade
Mineral Waters-The product. which was
sold amounted to S,259.G00 gallons, worth
$l.261,473. A slight decrease.