The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-22
ASPHALT AND RITUMEN
Annual geport of Edward w. Par
ker, of the Geological Survey

Ahhaai Eepoft of Edward w. Par
ker, of the Geological Survey.
In his annual report, which is in course
of preparation, Edward w Parker. of the
United States Geological Survey. has the
following to say regarding "Asphaltum
and Bituminous Rock"
1T has been found advisable TO make a
distinction in this report between the
purer forms of hard and soft asphaIturn,
such Sc eIaterite. siIsanite. albertite NAL
tina. brea. etc, and the sandstones and
limestones impragnated with bitumen and
known as bituminous or asphaltic lime
stone. bituminous sandstone, etc
The latter are usually shipped with
out being previously treated or refined
are used principally for street paving, and
are manipulated and mixed with the other
ingredients at the place where they are
to be used This class of bitumens is
known to the trade, particularly in Cali
fornia, which yields about 80 per cent of
the product, as bituminous rock, and il is
SO considered in this report. In some
cases the asphaitum or bitumen is ex-
tFacted from the bituminous rock and sold
as refined or gum.
There was a slight decrease in the to-
tai amount produced in 1899 compared
with the preceding year. and a decided
falling of in value" The report shows
the quantity produced in 1899 to have been
rs 0S5 short tons, valued at 1858 9e4- 1t
goes on to say: The comparatively large
decline in value was due to q marked de-
crease in the output of maltha or liquid
asphaltum in California In 1898 the total
product of liquid asphaltum was reported
at u 875 short tons valued at S271 900,
whereas in 1899 the product reported drop
ped to 400 short tons, having a value of
IS, 651. Crude asphaltum exhibited slight
decrease in product (406 tonsy, but with an
increase in value of 1850 The produc-
tien of bituminous sandstone fell off
slightly. both in tonnage and YaIue-not
enough to materially effect the total The
output of bituminous limestone and of
hard and refined gum each showed sub
stantial increases, both in the amount
and value of the product No sales of
mastie were reported in 1899 the material
that went into ii being reported before
treatment and included in the output of
bituminous sandstone
Regarding fuorSpar, Mr.. Parker said in
a pamphlet which is being prepared for
publication: THE production of fuor-
spar in 1888 amounted to 10. 500 tons, hay-
ing a total value at the mines CT 500 $50
This product exceeded both in quantity and
in value the output Of any previous year
was an increase Of over 100 per cent in
the amount of duorspar produced. while
the value increased about So per cent.
Nearly so per cent Of the product in 1899
was from the recently developed locali-
ties in Caldwell Crittenden, and Living
ston counties. Kentucky, the remainder
being contributed by the old mines near
RosiclaTe, III.
THE larger part of the fuorspar prod
yet is sold without further preparation
than the removal of dirt and such inpu-
rites as lead anad zinc, with which il is
frequently associated. The amount oil
crude fuorspar sold in 1899 was u .40t
short tons, shipped in bulk, valued at ST.
! $50. The remainder was ground and ship
ped in barrels. and was valued at S25, 600
In addition TO the localities ia Illinois
and Kentucky from which the entire
product in 1899 was obtained fiuorspar has
been reported as occurring in abundance
near Castle Dome. in Yuba county, Ari-
iona, and as associated with the telluride
| ores of Cripple Creek, Col"