The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-09
INCREASE OF OUR MINERAL PROD

In measuring the wonderful prosperity
of the United States during the last few
years the development of agriculture and
manufactures generally receives chief at
tention These are the main resources of
the country in material sense, but a third
and very important one is the development
of our resources in minerals outside of the
precious metals. \ chart recently issued
by the United States Geological Survey
conveys some interesting information on
this subject. 1T shows that the total value
Of mineral products outside of gold
and silver increased from 1860, $40 900 in 1880
to s619, 512 173 in 1890. ard to $50 in
1900 This is an increase Of nearly 100 per
cent. every ten years. Neither agricultural
nor manufacturing products show more re-
markable progress than this. As might be
expected, iron heads the list both i'm in
crease and in actual value. The statement
shows that in 1891 we produced S,279s7O tons
of pig IRON valued at S12S, 99397 9S5 and in 1900
Is. 7S9,242 tons. valued at S259, 1000, an in
crease Of little over 100 per cent. in ten
years. AS the production and consumption
of iron is the best criterion Of prosperity
this enormous increase in a single decade
shows that the country must have enjoyed
very high degree of prosperity Coal
comes next to iron, and is a good second,
increasing from III, 9O1. 2S7 tons, valued at
$117, 1Ss, 400 in 1891 TO 212,51S912 tons. valued
at $221 1SS, 5l5 in 1900. This is almost as good
a criterion of prosperity as is iron. Copper
is not precious metal. but it is valuable
and growing more so all the time. OF this
we produced 295, S62,O76 pounds in 1851,
valued at s3S, 455 800, and 6O6 ,166 pounds in
1900, valued at $685. 49l.GO9 Prior to the pas
sage of the Mckinley tariff, in 1890, we
manufactured very little cement. Under
the protection afforded by that bill the
cement industry Immediately began to
grow and the production increased from
S222 792 barrels i'm 1891 to 1925 131 barrels in
1900. In 1891 our imports of cement amount
ed to 1,12312S.OCO pounds, while last year
they were ESQ., 272. 52S pounds-about half of
what they were nine years ago. The home
production of this article increased from
Is, $50 AS barrels in 1899 to 7,225 131 barrels
in 1900. Indiana produces a considerable
quantity of cement and the industry prom
Uses to become important one. The re-
cent growth of this industry furnishes one
of the best Illustrations of the benefits of
protection. Formerly we imported most of
| the cement used i'm this country from Ger
| many, but the United States consul at
Hamburg. in a recent report to the State
| Department, stated that several German
| manufacturers have found it necessary to
start branch factories in the United States
in order to compete successfully in this
country with the home producers. The re-
| port from which these facts are CLEANED
| shows a similar increase in the production
of several other minerals, and it does not
| include the entire list, either. The item of
building stone, for example, is not men,
toned. yet the output Of stone in this State
| in 1899 was valued at s1,6S6572. Neither is
the item of clay products mentioned which
| Indiana produced in 1899 TO the value of
| So SIP. The figures given above embrace
| only a part Of our mineral products out
| side of gold and silver. but they show Won
| derful development and great additions to
| the material wealth of the country.