The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-30
VALUABLE MINERALS.
Summary of the Output of Metals
and Fuels
Cleaned From the Report of the
Chief of Mining Statistics.

mining statistics and technology, shows
the metal and fuel output of the United
States:
Iron-The principal statistics for 1887
were: Domestic iron ore consumed,
about 11,3O0,O00 long tons; value at
mines, $33 100000. This is an increase
over 1886 of 100000 tons in quantity
and $5,900,000 in value. Imported iron
ore consumed, 1,194,301 long tons; total
iron ore consumed in 1887, about 1884,
3O1 long tons, or 1,4s4,s6S tons more than
in 1886. Pig iron made, 6,417, Jas long
tons; value at furnace, 1921 1926, 800. This
is an increase over 1886 of 733, S19 tons in
quantity and see, 10000 in value. Steel
of all kinds produced, s,339,071 long tone,
an increase of 1860 tons over 1886;
value at works, $103,811 900. Total spot
value of all iron and steel in the first
stage of manufacture, excluding all 6upli-
cations, $171, 100000, an increase of $685.
100000, as compared with 1886. Lime
stone, used as hux in the manufacture of
pig iron in 1887, about $4,000 long
tons; value at quarry, about So ,226,200.
Gold and silver-The total value Of gold
produced in 1887 was $33, 100000, de-
crease of $1,900,00O from 1885. Silver in
creased from SOL ,000,0 900 in 1886, to $685.
AL 300 (coining value) in 1887.
Copper-Total production, lo4,67O,5 24
pounds, of which 3,750,000 pounds were
made from imported pyrites. The total
value was 21,052, 440, at an average of
ia per pound. The estimated total
consumption Of copper in the United
States increased by about IA per cent.
Lead-The production of lead was 1907
700 short tons, valued at $14, 900 at $50
per short ton. The heavy increase of
"desilverized" lead from 114,829 short
tons in 1856 to ,552 in 1887 was prob
ably due to the importation of Mexican
lead silver ores. The large product of
non argentiferous lead, 25, 14S short tons,
is due chiefly to the development of the
Saint Joe district in Missouri. The pro-
auction of white lead and the several
oxides from pig lead increased to a total
of about $4,000 short tons.
Zinc-The producers returns show an
increase from 1884 short tons in 1886 to
5O,340 in 1887. The price increased to AZ
cents per pound making the total value
in 1887 $4,7S2,300. The production of
zinc oxide was practically teady at $4,000
short tons, valued at 81 100000.
Observation-Disclosures and value in
creased from 29,991 TASKS, valued at 81
100000, to 33,925 TASKS, valued at $1,429
900. Except IS TASKS from Oregon the
total supply came from California. The
price in 1887 varied from 1865 to $48
per flask in San Francisco.
Nickel-The supply includes 1925
pounds of metallic nickel, vnlued at $117,-
200; 1886 pounds of metallic nickel con-
tanned in matte, and IL ,595 pounds con-
tanned in nickel ammonium sulphate
Total value, $133,2O0.
Cobalt oxide-The product includes
5,769 pounds of cobalt oxide for potters'
use, and 1851 pounds of oxide in matte
exported to Europe. Total value, $l8,774
Chromium-Shipmen from California
increased to 5000 long tons on account of
better freight facilities by rail to the East
ern States. The total value in San Fran
cisco was $4,000.
Manganese-The total production of
manganese ore in the year ending Decem-
Der 81, 1887, was "a 524 long tons, valued
at 1888, 844. The production of manga
niferous iron ore was 211,75 tons, valued
at about 100000. The production of ar
gentiferous manganese ores was $4,000
tons, valued, chiefly for its silver, at about
100000.
Antimony-The production, all in CAL
ifornia, was rs tons, valued at $l5,5OO.
This is an increase from 80 toas in 1886,
valued at $1,000.
Aluminum-The production of alumni
mum bronze containing 10 per cent of
aluminium increased to 144, 764 pounds in
1887, valued at $57,905. Other alloys,
principally OF iron and aluminium,
amounted to 1857 pounds, worth $4,000
Platinum-Considerab search by deal
ers produced 448 ounces of crude plati-
mum, valued at S1,838. Part of this came
from British Columbia.
FUELS.
Coal-The total production of all kinds
of commercial coal in 1887 was 128,965,255
short tons increase over 1886, 16,283,046
tons), valued at the mines at $173,530,996
increase, see, AIS, PAD. This may be di-
vided into Pennsylvania anthracite, 49,
5O6,255 short tons increase, 2,809,780
short tons), or 35,273, 442 long tons Gn-
crease, 2,5O8,732 long tons), valued at
$79,365,244 Grcrease, $7,807,11S); all
other Goals, including bituminous, brown
coal, Ignite, small lots of anthracite pro-
duced in Colorado and Arkansas, and
5000 tons of graphite coal mined in
Rhode Island, amounting in the aggre-
gate to 84,4590OO short tons Gncrease,
13,473,266 tous), valued at 1874, 165, 1852
increase, $18,611,123)
The coIliery consumption at the indi-
vidusl mines varies from nothing to per
cent of the total output of the mines, be-
ing greatest at special Pennsylvania an
thracite mines, and lowest at those btu
minous mines where the coal bed lies
nearly horizontal, and where no steam
power or ventilatiDg furnaces are used
The averages for the different states vary
from 81 to 6 IT per cent, the minimum
averages being in the Pennsylvania btu,
minous, and the maximum average being
in the Pennsylvania anthracite region.
The total output of the mines, including
colliery consumption, was: Pennsylvania
anthracite, 37578,747 long tons (increase
over 1886, 2,725,670 long tons), or 42,0S8,-
1877 short tons increase 3,O52,751 short
tons); all other Goals, 1887 $3.50 short tons
increase, 14,129 4O3 tons), making the
total output of Goals from mines in the
United States, exclusive of slack coal
thrown on the dumps, 129925,557 short
tons increase, 17,182,154 tons), valued as
follows: Anthracite, $84, 552,1S1 (increase
$8,433,O61); bituminous, $97,939.656 Tin
crease, $19, ASS, 6OO); total value, 1882, 49,
1877 increase, $27,S91 66D. The above