The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-29
OUR MINERAL PRODUCTS.
A Remarkable Increase Shown in the
Year 1898

ear 1898.
The official report of the mineral pro-
duction of the United States for the
calendar year 1898 has just been made
public by the Geological Survey. 1t
shows that since 1880 the total value of
the mineral production of the United
States has increased from 1853, 5000
to $685., $50, 002 in 1898, nearly 80 per cent.
The normal increase deduced from this
record of nineteen years is at the rate
Of $1S,O00,000 annually, but during the
five years since 1893 the rate of increase
has been nearly $25,OOO,O0 annually,
While the normal rate of increase
may lie somewhere between these fig
ures, the totals are marked by great
Irregularities. From 1894 to 1895 the in
crease was nearly $10O,0O0,0O0, and in
the following year the increase was only
a little over $1,000,O00, while from 1892
to 1894 there was decrease owing to
the business depression of over S12l,-
100000. From 1896 to 1897 the increase
was about $s,O00,OOO, about 1.S per
cent, while from 1897 to 1898 the in
crease was $66,97O,534. The 1898 total
product was the largest in history, ex-
ceeding that of 1892, which held the
record prior to 1898, by nearly $50OOO,-
co., This is due to a general increase
all along the line of mineral products,
all of the more important of these show
ing large increases, and almost every
one showing some gain.
The value of all metallic products in
1898 was 1914, 006,130, as compared with
1902, 1913, SOP in 1897, a gain Of SAL, S97,62S.
All of the metals, except nickel, made
large gains-copper lead, zinc, alumni
ium and antimony reaching their maxi
mum in both production and value; but
while the amount of pig-iron produced
in 1898 was greater than in any other
year. yet the value of this product was
considerably less than in 1890 or 1892,
though it increased $21, 434, 701 over
1897, this being more than one-half the
total increase IN the metallic products
from 1897 to 1898. The nom metallic
products increased from 1927, no. 966 in
1897 to 1852, 7S3,S72, a gain of $25,072906.
bituminous coal, which increased from
$119, 567, 224 in 1897 to $132, SIS, 313 in 1898,
gain of $13,019,O S9. The value of the
anthracite, however, fell off nearly
81, 100000. The other products showing
important gains were stone, petroleum,
natural gas and mineral waters.
The official figures of production and
value of the principal products follow:
Iron and steel-Pig iron, 11,773,934
long tons; Bessemer steel ingots, $780,
OFT tons; open hearth steel $3.50, 29O long
tons; iron ores, 1928, 1863 long tons, val
ued at $22, o12,54 Gold, value $64, 463, 900
Gan increase). Silver, 54,43S,O0 ounces,
coming value 70,3S4,4 85, or commercial
value 1872 11S, 420.
Copper, 526,512,9S7 pounds, value
SCI, $50, 276 lead 231,269 tons, value
ST. 345, 175 zinc 1889 short tons, value
$40, 3S5,91O; quicksilver 51092 TASKS,
value $1,11S627; aluminium 100000
pounds value $1,716,000; metallic anti
mony 1,120 short tons, value $1s4,O5o so
per cent. being derived from imported
ores; manganese 1857 long tons, value
1929, 1856; nickel 13.411 pounds.
Fuels-Coals, combined product of
anthracite and bituminous 1856, 405953
long tons, equivalent to 219,974,667 short
tons, a 91a per cent. increase. OF the
total las, 742S7S long tons were bitumi-
nous; coke 16,047, 200 short tons. Crude
So, 534, 533 barrels; natural gas,
value $14,750000 stone $36,607,264 in
value; clay $1O,O0O,00O value.
Portland cement 3,692,2S4 barrels; ma
tural rock cement S,276,424 barrels; cor
undum and emery $275,064 value; pro-
duct 4,O64 tons; phosphate rock 6OO,S94
long tons, $2,673,202 value; gypsum
POI ,69S short tons, value $755,2SO; salt
II, 612634 barrels of $50 pounds, S6,212,-
554; borax 100000 pounds S1,l2oooo;
pyrite 1913, 1854 long tons; precious stones
$3.50 900 in value; asphaltum 7o,997 short |
TONS s675,649; limestone for iron flux |
IS, 275, S19 tons, worth $2,69S,ooo.
Mineral waters. 2S,S55,464 gallons sold,
worth $S,051, 1888.