Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-08-15
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL,
TRADE NorEs-cRoP REPORTS.

TRADE N0TES-CROP REPORTS.
Bradssreers of the 18th instant furnishes a
summarized statement ofthe mineral products
of the country for 1887 with comparisons OF
previous years. The total value ofthe mineral
products is $685., 056 345, large gain over 1856
and 500. 900 900 greater than the output OF 1885,
The production of pig iron alone Increased
more than s26, 100000; the high price of copper
caused heavy expansion in that industry.
The product of coal is the largest ever record
ed The total value is more than $500. 900. 900 in
the mining industry. The year 1888 will fall
considerably below this total. Among many
reasons for the decrease this year is the decline
in railroad building. The principal Items OF
interest concerning each product are:
Iron.-The principal statistics for 1887 were:
Domestic iron ore consumed about II, 300, 600
long tons value at mines sS3 900 600. an increase
over 1886 of 1 300 900 tons in quantity and S.
900 900 in value. Imported iron ore consumed
1881, 30l long tons; total iron ore consumed In
1887 about u 49i 30l long tons, or 1854, 1858 tons
more than in 1885. Pig iron made 4l7,l4s
long tons value at furnace sl2l ,925, 800. an in
crease over 1886 of 733, 8l9 tons in quantity and
$40 73O O4O in value. Steel of all kinds produced
$3.50 OIL long tons. ali increase of 776, 569 ton l
over 1885, value at works Sl03, Sll 900. Tota
spot value of all iron and steel in the first stage
of manufacture, excluding all applications,
Sill JOB 000 an increase of S2S 900 as compar-
ed with 1886.
r Coal.-The total output of the mines, includ-
ing colliery consumption, exclusive of slack
coal thrown on the dumps, was 129. 90, 55 short
tons increase II, 1872 l54 tons), valued as follows
Anthracite, SS4, 552,1sl increase So. 433061G bit
luminous ss7 $50 increase s19. Ass 6OOG to:al
value, s1S2, 49l, s37 increase S27, SOL ,66I. The
above figures show notable increase in 1887
over 1886 in the aggregate output and value Of
both anthracite and bItuminous coal.
Coke.-Tota1 production for the year was
1857, 4S7 short tons, valued at sl5. 723,574 This
is the greatest product ever reached in the
United States being 1,O22, 4l9 tons greater than
in 1885.
Gold and silver.-The total value of gold pro-
duced in 1857. according to the mint authorit-
les. SS3 los, 900, decrease of ST. 100000 from
1885. Silver increased from SOL. 900, 600 in 1sS
to $50, AL 800 looming value) in 1887
Copper.-Total production 1S4, ,5A pounds,
of which 900 pounds were made from i'm
ported pyrites. The total value was S2l, 052-
40, at an average of l1.4c. per pound. The esti-
mated total consumption of copper in the
United States Increased by about IA per cent.
Lead.-The production Of lead was 10000
short TONS valued at sl4 463 000 at 800 per short
ton. The heavy increase of "desilverized"
lead from ia $50 short tons in 1856 to 1876 552 in
1887 was probably due to the Importation of
Mexican lead silver ores. The large product
of non -argentiferous lead, % l4S short tons, is
due chiefly to the development of the st. Joe
district in Missouri. The production of white
lead and the several oxides from pig lead in
creased to a total of about 5000 short tons.