Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-16
COUNTRy,s MINERAL OUTPUT.
Treasure Dug from Natures Well.
stocked StOrehOuse.

stocked StOrehOuse.
San Francisco Chronicle.
Estimates of the mineral and metallic
production of the United States for the
year 1900 have just been published by the
New York Engineering and Mining Journal.
1t is too early, OF course, for exact figures
to be obtainable, but in past years the
Journal has been approximately correct in
its preliminary estimates, which are based
on reports received from official sources
and from producers. The total value OF
the metal production of the country last
year is placed at $509, ,S00,992, as against
1896 ,057 ,320 in 1899 This is an increase OF
sl3,743,672. 1t is traceable chiefly to two
sources-silver and gold. The output of
the latter metal in one Colorado district
Cripple Creek-was over $6, 000, 900 in ex
cess of that OF the previous year. Then
the increased yield of the precious metal
in Alaska during the past year cuts quite
a figure. The silver output was also $3,000,-
900 larger than that OF 1899 The copper
mines In the Great Lakes region and In the
| western states and territories turned out
more metal last year than at any previous
period in their history, but the value has
slightly decreased. The non metallic sub
stances mined during the year are valued at
s755, $50 s9l, as against s645, 1854 ,305 in 1890,
An increase OF sl09. 1926, ,6s6 Is thus shown
| in the value of these minerals The total
mineral output OF the United States during
the last two years will thus compare as
| follows:
1899 1900. Increase in 1900
sl.l4, ,sl1, ,625 81, ,265, ,4S1 1888 Sl23, ,GI0,35S
The latter figure represents the increased
wealth to the nation which the mining
industry has contributed directly during the
/, ind tl. hs
looked for in the influence which this vast
sum has had on other industries and OF
commerce associated with mining and it,
products.
Among metals pig iron heads the list witt
a value Of $685., ,07s,737 to its credit copper
comes second as its value is placed at $780,
154,345 and gold third with a total valu,
of SIS, ,65S, 755, over sS500,0 900 more than thu
year preceding. The value of the silve
production in 1900 was S37 ,085,24s, as agains
s34, ,O36, ,l6S in 1899. ''
The colieres OF the country yielded las
year 274,s41,779 short tons of coal, agains
252, 1887 short tons in 1899 and 2ls,333, ,S3
short tons in 1895
} The total gold production OF the worl
in 1900 is estimated AT s256, ,462.+3s. In 1S9
it amounted to s3l2,307, $40, OF which tn
, Transvaal mines yielded S72, ,961, sol. Las
| year tntSt HlUeS CoulTlDultu
nothing. Whatever was extracted froI
them by the Transvaal government befor
the evacuation of johannesburg an
! Pretoria and the occupation by the BIRTHS
OF the Barberton district has not been a,
counted for.
h Tho suspension OF mining in the Trant
!, yaal placed the United states last year
!, the head of all gold producing countrie
= In 1899 it was outrankod by Australas
: | which had an output OF $7s,206, 1880, Il
United States having produced only so
096O2I In 1900 the gold output
Australasia seems to have declined. amour
ing only to s75,2s3.2 2l5. The United Stat
n thus leads the latter by s54OO,o 900, II VI
d be a long time before the Tranyaal min
- will again reach their maximum outpr
d Until they do the United States will prob
Is bly, hold first place as a gold producer.
- fact. it may pe held permanently, as 4
d possibilities OF future development in Ii
I. branch OF the mining industry in Alas
70 and throughout the western mineral bel
h are nearly unlimited.