The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-10-18
Our Mineral Production.

he importance OF the mineral out
put of the United States is probably
more generally admitted than under
stood. We all know that our coal and
iron mines are among our most i'm
portant industries The extent of
their value, however, and the part
which they play in the annual volume
OF business for the country would
doubtless surprise many we'll informed
people. With view to showing the
relative Importance of this branch of
production as compared with agricul-
tural products, the Financial Chronicle
publishes some items from state
ment just issued by the geological
survey. The extraordinary stimulus
given to the iron trade during the
past year is another reason for present
ing the facts. While conceding the
crops the first Importance in influence
ing the trade of the country, the
Chronicle placed the mineral output
but little below them. Any, branch of
industry which includes the produc-
ton of iron and coal must necessarily
affect and be affected bv the general
current of trade. Moreover, the
fiuctuation in mineral production fol-
lows the course of general business
and is greater or less according to con-
ditions of prosperity or the reverse.
In 1894, for example, when the pre-
vailing depression was at its lowest,
the mineral output decreased accord
ingly, although even then the agge-
gate value, according to the report,
was 1927 100000. The wheat crop of
that year was valued at 1926, 900, 600
and the oat crop at $215,O00,000. The
year was, of course, a poor crop year,
but the corresponding decrease in the
mineral output makes the comparison
a fair ore 1t is likewise to be taken
into account that the value of the
mineral product is greatly enhanced
by the many processes OF manufac-
ture, the figures given referring only
to the crude product. while in the case
of the crops the value is but slightly
enhanced by any later process. The
figures for 1894, too, although less
than those for the two preceding years,
show a great increase over those OF a
decade ago
OF the entire mineral output, the
precious metals constitute small |
proportion. More gold was produced |
in 1894 than for many years vast, yet
the value of the gold output was only |
$39, 100000, or one thirteenth of the
total mineral output. Silver, as pre-
sended by the report, at its coming
value, furnishes much larger proper
ton, but if taken at its crude value it
is reduced more than half and is only |
about 6 per cent. of the total mineral
product. The two minerals which |
contribute the largest proportion are
coal and iron, coal counting $1S6, ,OOO,-
and iron 500, 100000. In both cases
the output fell considerably below
that of the preceding year, due partly
to general conditions and partly, in
the case of coal, to the prolonged
strike of 1894 The lowered prices
also help to reduce the value OF the
output, not only in coal and iron, but
in the minor minerals. Taking into
the fact that the present !
wear has seen few strikes, none OF |
great Importance, and that prices are
experiencing wholesome reaction, 1t |
NAV be assumed that the total miner
ol product of 1895 will not only exceed
that of last year by several millions,
but may rise above the larger products
of 1892 and 1S93.-News.