Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-08-10
MINERAL PRODUCTS.
Statistics Concerning a Years
Output of Our Mines.
The United States Leading the
World in Mineral Resources.

DR.. 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. O56, 345;
it shows a wonderful gain over 1886,
and is 500, OOO, 900 greater than the output OF
1885. The United States leads the world IN
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 SIC, 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
whole, the report shows a year of great
prosperity for the mining industry.
The great total value of more than half
billion dollars, the report says, resulted not
only from an increase in the quantity OF min
erals mined, but also from general advance
in the prices of metals. 1T may be several
years before this total is exceeded, and the
year 1888 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 consumed about H.
30O,0 long tons: value at mines, So, $780,
600; an increase over 1888 of 5000 % tons IN
quantity and s., 900, 900 in value. Imported
iron ore consumed l, 1914, sol long tons; total
iron ore consumed in 1887 about Il, 494 ,30l
long tons, or ,454, S6S tons more than in 1886
Pig iron made, 6,417 148 long tons; value at
furnace, 1921 ,925, 500. This is an increase
over 1886 of 733, $40 tons in quantity and S2O,-
730,04O in value. Steel of all kinds produced,
1889 OIL long tons, an increase of l16, 569 tons
over 1885, value at works, S103, 81, 600.
Gold and Silver-Total value of gold pro
duced in 1887, $33 O00, ooOO, decrease of
$51 900, 600 in 1886 to $5S Al, 800 coinage
value in 1887.
Copper-Production 184, 67O, 524 pounds of
which $3.50, 600 pounds were made from I'M
ported pyrites Total value S21, O52, 40.
Lead-Production, 100, 700 short tons,
valued at S14, 46S 900. The heavy increase of
"desilverized" lead from IA, S2J short tons in
1886 to 135, 552 in 1887 was probably due to
the importation of Mexican lead silver ores.
COal-Total output, including colliery con-
sumption, was: Pennsylvania anthracite,
37,57S, 747 long tons; an increase over 1856 OF
g. 725, go long tons, or A., OSS, 1917 short tOns
an increase of ,, 052, 151 short tons. All other
Goals, 81, S37, 800 short tons; an increase of
IA, 129, 4O3 tons, making the total output of
all Goals from mines in the United States, eX- |
elusive of slack coal thrown on the dumps, |
1919, 925, 557 short tons; an increase of H. 1872
154 tons, valued as follows: Anthracite, !
$50 90, 1ol; an GOD increase 1sc OF S4S3 G9l.
ass, 600 Total value. 1872, 491 S31; an increase
Of $27, 1911 Sol. All this shows notable in |
crease over 1886.
Coke-Total production, 1857, 4S7 short |
tons greater than in 1886.
Natural Gas-Production equivalent to g.
O55, 900 short tons of coal displaced: value,
S13, $50, 500, against $780, 90 tons, worth |
SO, S47, $50 in 1886.
Building Stone-Total value, S25, 900 900.
This marked increase of 100000 coo shows
that the statement for 1856 was too small.
Brick and Tile-Value, $40, 100000, an in
crease of about - per cent in the prOduc- |
ton of brick and q decrease in tile
Lime-46, 750, 900 barrels, average value of
so cents Darrell increase for the year of 10
per cent.
Cement-6, 692, IA barrels, valued at So
1S6, S77; increase, 81, 1876, 81
Precious StOnes-The value of American
gems in the rough state amounted to SIS, 600,
beside gold quartz for specimens and gems
valued at $75, 900.
Salt, S31 1863 barrels (of $50 pounds,
value ST O93, $40. The annual production has
increased each year since 1888, but the total
value has declined, being less in 1887 than
1884, although only 6,514, 937 barrels were
made in that year.
Observation-Disclosures II 100000 pounds, all
from California and Nevada Total value
$3.50 900, at five cents pound for the average
grade.
Mineral Waters-The rroduct'which was
sold amounted to S, 259,6OO gallons, worth
81, 261, 473 A slight decrease.