The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-06
Our Mineral Resources.


and giving detailed statistics of the
mineral production of the United States
for the year 1894. Mr.. Rothwell is the
foremost living authority upon this
subject; and his figures are accepted as
| authoritative in even the official pub
llcations OF the United States govern
ment. Considering the depression in
trade during the period covered, the
table makes decidedly satisfactory
showing. and one which can scarcely
fail to impress every American with q
renewed sense of pride in the variety
ana vastness of his country's natural
resources.
The total value of the mineral pro-
ducts of the country, as shown In this
table, was S6l5, ,SS7. los in 1893, and $685.
352, 1896 in 1894; showing n decrease in
values mot quantities. last year of $62,-
53i, 112, or 10 per cent. To arrive at the
net value of the mineral and metal
production in each year, a deduction
must be made from the total for that
of substances, the value of which has
necessarily been duplicated in the ta-
bles. A careful estimate of the proper
amount of these deductions gives Sl3,-
OC0, 900 in 1894. and $l5,0OOOOO in 1898,
which would lsave the net total value
Of our mineral production in 1898 equiv
alent to $500, ,s77, ,1OS; and in 1894 equiva-
lent to $54O, ,352, 1896. The decline in
quantity for 1894 Is more difficult to as
certain; but the production of b.tumin-
Gus coal, which IS really an index to
the condition of the manufacturing in
dus.ry, showed q decrease from 1893,
notwithstanding the strikes which pre-
vailed, of only 1900, 900 tons, or about
per cent, while that of anthracite coal
actually increased by 100000 tons, or
nearly 10 per cent; SO that the decrease
in the total output of fuel was less than
6,221, 900 tons, or 3a per cent, while the
decline in value was per cent. In pig
iron the decrease was comparatively
small, only about 100000 tons, and we
find that all this loss was in the earlier
part of tn. year, while at the close of
1894 the furnaces were running at
rate which promises to make the pro-
duction of 1895 exceed 100000 tons,
which has thus far been the highest
mark of our production. In some other
important metals again there was an
actual increase, amounting in the case
Of copper to 26,25OOOO pounds In this
metal the decline In home consumption
was offset by a large increase In the
exports.
The silver production Of the. United
States was maintained at much high
er level than had generally been ex-
pected. In 1893 the production was co.
100000 ounces, a decrease of 4,5OO,OOO
ounces from 1892, when 1t reached Its
highest level. The low price with
which 1894 opened and the withdrawal
of the demand created by the Sherman
law led many persons to believe that
the reduction would approximate the
amount of the government purchases
under that law, or 54,000,000 ounces,
which would have been equivalent to
practically wiping out the industry.
The actual decrease in 1894 was only
1864, 900 ounces. or about Is per cent.
The reduction still leaves the United
States the greatest silver producer in
the world, and the industry Is, and
doubtless will continue to be, a most
important one. Perhaps the most not
able feature of the year Is the increase
in the output Of gold. From time to
time throughout 1894 the diversion of
capital and labor from silver to gold
mining has been noted. The total outH
put Of gold in the United States last
year was $50, ,761 900, an increase of $3,-
100000 over 1893, and Of $6,754,OOO over
1892. In gold output Australia has Also
shown a considerable gain, and runs
the United States quite closely this
year, while the phenomenal increase
from the Transvaal mines has also
made South Africa close competitor
for the first rank as producer Of the
yellow metal.
Mr.. Rothwell attributes the decline
in prices entirely to the overproduc-
tion consequent upon improved meth
DDS Of mining and manufacture Others
claim to see in the enlarged use of
gold as a primary money also a reason
for this noticeable drop. But whatever
the cause the result Is indisputable.
Thus. while our total production OF cop
per showed an increase of 26,250OO0
pounds, the estimated value at the place
of production was lower by $1,640,000 in
1894 than in 1893. Again, the produo-
ton of zinc decreased only $3.50 tons or
about per cent, while the value re-
ported was less by about $1,0O0,0O0 or
1876 per cent. The decrease In the pro-
duction OF pig iron was $4,000 tons or