Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-29
A MARKED increase
Shown in the Mineral Production Of
the Country, Last Year.
The Total Value S611, ,7e5, 200 in
1895, or $50, 100000 More Than
in 1894, Showing a Healthy
Growth-Large Increase In Coal,
Iron and Petroleum-The Value Of
Some Leading Products.

port Of the United States Geological
Survey. The report, which was COM
piled by Or. David r. Day, chief OF di-
vision, shows the total value OF the
products as S611, ,795, ,290. This stands
against product valuation Of $527 $685.
594 in 1894. This is an increase OF $780,
900. 900. The quantity and value OF the
various products for the year are given
among them the following: Pig iron,
S1O5, 1873, $50; silver, $50, ,764,9GO; gold,
$47, 900, coo; petroleum, S57,69l,219; nat
ural gas, $4,000, $50; brick clay, $4,000
GOO; bituminous coal, S115,749,771 and
anthracite coal, $50 2019,272.
In summarizing the result, the report
says: "The general increase is a long
step towards recovery from the depres-
sion TO which the mineral industry like
all others has been subjected. The TO-
tai value is
BUT SLIGHTLY LESS
than the greatest we have ever known
which was over S64S, 600, 600 in 1892. In
serms of quantities produced, instead
of value received, 1895 is greatest. In
other words, prices are lower.
Considering the record of the total
values recorded in these reports since
1886. the increase from $3.50, 600
to S611, ,795, ,290 is significant, and the
average for these sixteen years gives a
fair approximation TO what our normal
mineral products should nave been half
way between these dates, or in 1888.
Comparing this computed norma! pro-
duct with the actual products, the aver
age yearly gain due to the general
growth of the industry should be about
S25 .000. 600. or the product Of 1895 should
have been $670,000,000 The great pro-
duets of 1892 and 1895 show the ease
with which the mines can respcAd TO
any unusual demand. II shows that the
capacity is significantly greater than
the ability to market the product. In
fact, it is difficult to conflne the large
| capacity to actual requirements. With
very slight encouragement the product
takes
A PHENC NIENAL STRIDE.
In 1892 and 1895 the product most diff
cult TO hold in check has been iron
This product easily controls the yaria-
tions in the total value, either by the
quantity produced or by the changes
in price.
while the coal product is so great
as to make a significant factor in the
| total value, it is much steadier, and in
| spite of the extra demand for it in or
! der to produce an extra supply of iron
The increased output of iron in 1896
was necessary because of the great re-
! trenchment in 1894 The railroads or
| dered as little iron as possible in that
year, but ordered freely in 1895 to take
advantage of prices while they were
still low but advancing. This advance
was marked industrial feature of the
| year and continued until Septembe Der
The prices of steel rails have not yet
| declined again.
The United States shared in the
! general increase in gold production, the
increase being shown in nearly all the
gold producing States but coming
principally from Cripple Creek and 9TH
er new mining camps in Colorado. The
gain in the quantity of petroleum, but
especially the phenomenal
INCREASE IN ITS PRICE,
was one of the great features of the
year. The steady increase in the gold
product since 1892 was kept up during
| 1895, increasing from 1.010,S16 ounces
| in 1894, TO 2,273,62 ounces in 1895, the
| valuation of the latter being $39. 500
| 600. Silver production fell to $4,000. .0OC
ounces from 49, sol ,122 ounces in 1894
with coming values respectively OF
SEQ, ,766, 300 and $64 100000.
Copper, domestic ore production fol-
lowed the upper tendency of the other
metals, and increased over 100000
pounds, or $500, eco.
The rapidly increasing product of
zinc which was checked in 1893 and
| 1894 was resumed.
The declining tendency in iron and
steel production in 1894 was changed
| in 1895 to one of the
MOST REMARKABLE INCREASES
in production of pig iron in the history
Of the industry in the United States. 1t
rose from 6.657,3 ,3SS long tons in 1894
| to 9,446.30S tons in 1895, or nearly ~
| per cent. This is the largest product
ever attained in this country the near
est approach to it being in 1890. The
! value also increased from 1915 to Sill
13 per ton. Iron ore production increas-
ed over "a per cent, and with but six
exceptions all of the iron ore producing
States participated in this advance.
The total product Of coal Of all kinds
increased 2.376, ,004 long tons, or 25 ,061,-
| 124 short tons or 13 per cent The
value of the product increased 81 ,061.-
/ 499. about six per cent. The year was
marked by a production considerably
in excess of the market demands and
values
WERE MUCH REDUCED
in consequence. Anthracite decreased
13 cents per long ton at the mines, and
bituminous 5 cents. This decline in
| value was general throughout the Unit
cd States. there being but three or four
comparatively unimportant States
whose value was larger in proportion in
1895 than in 1894.
Petroleum production showed a hota-
BILE increase especially in Ohio, Indiana
and California, and the years other
features are, decrease in stocks, rise in
pr.ces. and extension southwark of pro-
/ fi;able producing districts in the Ap-
palachian range.
The total coke product in 1895 was
largest and the previous year the small
lest in recent years. This fucuation is
caused by the rise and decline of the
mig iron product, in the manufacture OF
| which almost the entire coke output is
| consumed.