The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-20
NON-METALLIC PRODUCTS.

Grand totals :. $27 1853, SO $267, $40 230. Il
The value of the coal output was over
100000 greater for 1898 than for 1897;
there was an increase in the value Of
salt output of $64, 700; an increase in
clay goods, principally brick, of over
SIPS, 900; a decrease in gypsum and gyp-
sum cement plaSterS of about $23 900;
an increase in petroleum and refined
oil of nearly 800, 600; an increase in
natural gas of about $4,000; while by
draulic cement, building stone, lime, and
sand about held their own.
There was an increase of about 3d.
100000 pounds of zinc ore over the fig
ures published in the annual report for
1897, and a decrease of about $4,000. 600
however, for both lead and zinc ores
made the aggregate value of the COM
bined ores at the mines greater by
nearly 100000. During the latter part
of 1898 the price of spelter advanced
very rapidly, much more rapidly in fact
than the price of zinc, so that the val
ue of the metallic contents of the zinc
ore shows a greater gain. For 1897 the
value of the metallic contents of the
lead and zinc ores was $3,710,64717,
while for 1898 it was 81, 2S6, 227. 50, a gain
of $575, 5SO.35.
The smelling industry increased more
rapidly than the production of ores,
due largely to the great activity of zinc
smelling in the natural gas region. The
value of spelter smelted on Kansas soil
for 1898 reached the enormous sum of
So. GAS, 1857, being about $780, 900 great
er than for 1897 Two leading smelt-
ing furnaces were in operation the
greater part of the year in Galena, be-
ing the first lead smelling done on
Kansas soil, outside of Argentine, for
nearly a decade. The combined output
of these two Ga1ena smelters was A.
4S0, 974 pounds, with a value a little
greater than $170. 900.
The Consolidated Kansas City Smelt-
ing and Refining company at Argentine
was very prosperous during 1898, al
though the sum total of it's output in
value was a little less than for 1897.
This company has been an active buyer
on the lead ore market throughout the
year. Its lead smelling reached the
enormous sum of 80 1872, 521 pounds, with
a value of about s.. OOO 900. The total
amount of gold produced at the refin-
cry was 272, 1868 fine ounces, with a
coinage value of $5,029, .95, which was
considerab bly, in excess of the gold pro-
duced in 1897. There was a falling off
in the amount of silver refined of near
~ 1900, 900 ounces, the amount produced
this year being 7.SS9,029.46 fine ounces,
which has a coinage value of $40. 1884,
726.19. or n commercial value, reckon
ing so cents to the ounce, for the year.
of 81, 733, 6S. In addition to the lead
and gold and silver produced at the
Argentine refinery, large amount of
blue vitrol and white Vitrol was pro-
duced during $685. each of these pro-
ducts being greatly in excess of the
1897 output, the total aggregate being
as given in the able above.
During the latter part of 1898 sharp
advance began in the price of spelter
and which resulted in an advance in
the price of the zinc ore. This amount
ed to but little for 1898 in comparison
with the effect produced for 1899 AL
ready zinc ore has reached the enor-
nous price of $55 a ton, with an aver
age for April and May of from $40 to
$50. When the reports for 1899 are
made up they will show an enormous
increase in the production of 1899 over
that of 1898.