The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-30
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
The Mineral Industries of this
Country the Largest In
the World.
The Total Value of Metal and
Mineral Substances of the
United States.

United States.
The following is from the official report
of the United States entitled "Mineral
Resources of the United States" and 1t is
of interest. 1t shows the value of material
for the year 1887:
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Building stone-Direct returns from
producers show total value of $25,00O,-
600. This marked increase shows that
the statement for 1885 was too small.
Brick and tile-Value, $40,OO0,0O0. This
represents an increase of about Is per
cent in the production of brick and a de
crease in tile, owing to the drouth in 1887
in Indiana and Ohio. Prices were slightly
lower.
Lime-The production is estimated at
46,75O,000 barrels, with an average value
Of so cents per barrel.
Cement-The production of cement
from natural rock was 6,692. 744 barrels,
valued at Tx cents per barrel, making
$5,1S6,S77 as the value of the years
product.
ABRASIVE MATERIALS.
Burh stones-The value of the product
Is estimated at $2O0,000.
Grindstoues-In Ohio and Michigan,
37,4oO tons werei produced, valued at
$224,4O
Oorundum-Total production from
North Carolina and Georgia 600 short
tons, with spot value of $1OS,0O0.
Novaculite - Production 100000
IL in, hn stnfn ot
$4,000.
Iufusorial earth-Maryland produced
5000 short tons, worth $4,000. A small
quantity was produced in Neva da and in
New Mexico.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Precious stones-The value of A meri-
can gems IN the rough state amounted to
$SS,6OO, besides gold quartz for speci-
mems and gems, valued at $4,000.
Phosphate rock-South Carolina phos-
phate rock, 4S0,559 long tons, valued at
81, 1886, 81S; an increase of 50,009 tons, but
decrease of $36,11S in value, due to
greater competition, reducing the price
| to So 76 per ton for land and Sc for river
I rock.
Marls-In New Jersey the production
is estimated at 100000 tons, worth about
| 100000. While the New Jersey mari is
yielding slowly to commercial fertilizers,
the Virginia marls, as well as those in
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
sissippi and Florida, are finding increased
/ local use.
! Salt-Productio in 1887, 1881, 1862 bar
rels (of $50 pounds), value $4,093 SAG.
The annual production thus increased
each year since 1888, but the total value
has declined, being less in 1887 than in
1884, although only 6,514,9 1897 barrels were
made in that year.
Bromine-Stccks accumulated in 1886
and reduced the output of 1887 to 199,087
| pounds, valued at $61,717. The price was
held at 81 cents per pound.
CHARACTERIZATION IL 100000 pounds,
all from California and Nevada. Total
value, $550,000, at cents per pound for
the average grade. The price was rising
at the close of 1887.
Sulphur-Produotion about 5000 tons
from Utah, worth 100000. Litigation
checked the use of an increased plant
The imports of Sicilian sulphur, with
small shipments from Japan, were 96,Ss2
long tons, valued at $1,688, $50.
Pyrites Production $4,000 long tons,
valued at $210000, at 81 per ton at the
; mines.
Barry tes-The production increased to
$4,000 long tons of crude barytes, valued
at $4,000 at the mines.
Gypsum-The condition of the industry
is practically unchanged. The estimated
total production was $4,000 short tons of
crude gypsum, valued at $425,000. In
addition, 1872, 154 long tons of crude gyp-
sum were imported, chiefly from Nova
| Scotia.
Mica-The production increased to TO-
500 pounds, valued at $142,250. The in
crease was chiefly in North Carolina. New
Hampshire, Massachusetts and Virginia
also produced mica. No shipments we're
reported from the Black Hills or New
Mexico. The use of mica waste is increas-
ing; 1000 tons, worth $4,000, were
ground in 1887.
Feldspar-The amount consumed,
principally by potters, was 10000 long
tons, valued at $56,10O before grinding.
This includes freight to the principal
markets, Trenton or New York. The
consumption in 1886 was about 5000
tons less than the production returned by
quarrymen.
Fint-For pottery 1880 tons were
used. Including the use for saud-paper
and in glass manufacture, the total con-
sumption was about $4,000 tons, worth
unground, $1S5,000.
Potters' cay-The consumption of
kaolin and ball clay by potters aggre-
gated $4,000 tons, valued at $290,000. In
addition, the potters used $4,000 tons of
fre-clay, worth $4,000.
Asbestus-The total product hardly
exceeded $50 tons, worth $4,000. In ad-
dition, several hundred tons of fibrous
actinolite we're used for weighing paper.
Mineral paints-Including Cchre, metal
lie paints and small quantities of umber
and sienna, the production amounted to
10000 long tons, selling for $4,000 at
the mines.
Graphite-The production at Ticon
deroga is reported as unchanged. Small
lots, ranging from graphite clay to pure
graphite, we're produced in North Caro-
lima. Total production, 10000 pounds
worth $4,000. This does not include SOC
tons of impure graphite mined in Rhode
Island for foundry facings.
Fluorspar- The production remained
constant at 5000 tons in Indiana. The