Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-08
AKEYSTONE PRODUCT.
That Takes High Rank as One Of Our
Important Industries.
THE CENSUS ON SLATE MINING.
One of the First Features on Which the
Inquiry is Completed.
RATHER HARD WORK TO COUNT ALASKA
trnox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,


WASHINGTON, August THAT divis-
the statistics Of mines and mining is one OF
the foremost in the condition of its work. 1t
has peculiar advantage over the other di-
visions OF the office in having as its chief
DIR. David T. Ray, of the United States
Geological Survey, and in being able to
place an organized force at once in the field.
DIR. Days agents, being already familiar
with the ground to be covered by reason of
their connection with the geological survey,
eleventh census, and were able to report re-
suits much more quickly than would have
been the case if inexperienced men had been
employed to perform the work.
Tomorrow one of the first of their bull
letins will be issued, showing the product
of slate during the calendar year 1889, the
value of slate, the number of men employed,
the wages and other expenses and the capi-
tai involved in this industry. This state
ment is exact for the entire country, but is
only brief summary of the more important
facts, which will be published in detail in
the complete report.
AT THE BEGINNING.
When this investigation was begun eight
months ago, there was not even good list
OF the producers of slate in existence, SO that
very largely the work had to be commenced
from the beginning. No investigation 50
complete as even the briet results here pre-
sented has ever before been successfully
prosecuted.
The bulletin to be issued tomorrow will
show that the total value of all slate pro-
duced in the United States in 1889 is So, a.
1868. OF this amount s., ,775, ,271 is the value
of 1913, 900 squares of roofing slate, and
1868, ,592 is the value of slate for ali other
purposes besides roofing. As compared with
the statements of the Tenth Census report of
1880 on stone, the roofing slate product of
1889 is nearly twice as great in number OF
squares and in value.
A consideration of the slate used for pur-
poses other than roofing appears to have
been omitted from the tenth census report.
The total value of all slate produced in 1889
is more than twice as great as that consid-
cred in the tenth census. According to
mineral resources of the United States,
1888, the total number of squares of roofing
slate produced in that year is 662, 400, valued
at 81. o53, ,44o.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE.
Pennsylvania is the most important slate
producing State in the Union, Vermont,
Maine. New York, Maryland and Virginia
following in the order named, but very far
behind. Pennsylvania produces three or
four times more slate than any other State.
The bulletin to be issued tomorrow will
show the following returns from the State
Of Pennsylvania. There are 104 slate quar-
ries in the State, from which 474. .602 so uares
of roofing slate, valued at 81 ,636, ,945, and
1914 ,831 worth OF slate for other pur-
poses. was quarried during the year 1889,
making total value of all slate produced
of 81, ,011,776. OF this amount, 81 ,283, $50
was paid in wages to the laborers and others
concerned in the production. Other ex-
penses IN addition to wages amounted to
SAL, ,633, making the total expense of pro-
ducing the entire amount of slate In Pennsyl-
vania, 81, 729, 1853. This shows balance of
profit to the owners of the quarries of
S2S2, ,613 during the year, or an average of
about s., III 30 each. for the 104 quarries.
The total capital invested.in Pennsyl-
vania in the slate industry is Sc, ,823, ,002, OF
which amount $5,049,157 is invested in
lands, S268, ,2s2 in buildings and fixtures,
sic, 1878 in tools, live stock, machinery and
supplies on hand, and S78S, 500 in cash in
hand. The average number of employees
during the year in the slate quarries of the
State was 134 foremen, ,725 quarrvmen and
millmen, 200 mechanics, 1,243 laborers and
265 boys under 16 years OF age.
FIGURES BY DISTRICTS.
These are the figures of the entire State.
hut it is usual for slate producers to reckon
the product by regions, as follows: Bangor
region, Pennsylyania-Twenty quarries;
165, SS2 squares of roofing slate valued at
S5S8, 25S; slate for other purposes valued at
Sis, 904, or a total value of all slate pro-
duced OF $707, 1852; total wages paid for en-
tire products, Sac, ,273; all other expenses.
S2o7, ,995; total expenses, S654, ,26S; capital
invested in land, 81, 49,, $50; in buildings
and fixtures, S53. 200; in tools. machinery,
etc.. SOS, ,525; in cash, S195. 800; total,
81, ,SSS. .575. Average number of employees:
% foremen, 578 quarry uen and mill men,
SO mechanics, 422 laborers, 9S boys under
16 years.
Lehigh region, Pennsylvania-Forty-fv
quarries; 142, ,164 squares OF roofing slate,
valued at SAT-, ,SO1: slate for other purposes,
valued at S212. .631; or q total value of all
slate produced of $500, 432; total wages paid
for entire products, $500. .575; all other ex
penses, S116, 752; total expenses, $177, ,695.
Capital invested: In land 81 ,62S, 140; in
buildings and fixtures, S132, ,507; in tools,
etc., $314, ,377; in cash, $277, ,969;
total 1885,, 1898. Average number of en-
ployes, 63 foremen. 553 quarry men and
mill men. 70 mechanics, AT laborers, So
boys under 16.
THE HARD VEIN REGION.
Northampton hard vein region, Peunsyl-
quarries; 45, 1874 squares of
roofing slate, valued at $160, 149; value of
slate for other purposes, $24. 456 total value
of all slate produced, S184, ,595; total wages
paid for entire product, S143, ,969; all other
expenses. $33,726; total expenses, SIT. .695.
Capital invested: In land, $736, ,679; in
buildings and fixtures, $50. .675; in tools, ma
chinery, etc., $40, AL; in cash, S112, ,S14;
total, $972, ,609. Average number OF en-
ployes: Twenty-Five ioremen. 200 quarry
men and mill men, q mechanics, 154 labor
ers, q boys under 16 years.
Penargyl region, Pennsylvania-seven-
teen quarries, 1854 squares of roofing
slate, valued at 1874, ,227; value of slate for
other purposes, $1S, ,803; total value of all
slate produced, $393. .O3O; total wages paid
for entire product, $2S6, ,915; all other ex-
penses, $83, 1873; total expenses, $3.50, ,293.
Capital invested: In land, 81, 1856 1893; in
buildings and fixtures, S27, 800, in tools and
etc., S114, 140; in cash, $1S6, ,692;
total, 81, 524, 1926. Average number OF en-
ployes, IL foremen, 345 QUAR- emen and mill
men, 3S mechanics, 231 laborers, 81 boys
under 16 years.
Peach Bottom region, comprising Hartford
Nd, and York county, Pa.-Nine