The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-05
Engineering and Mining Journal
Reviews Mining and MetallI:-
gical Industries.
PREDICTION FOR TEXAS OIL.
Believed That Beaumont Output
Will Affect the Manufacturing
Interests of the South
west.

] New York, Jan. A.-The production and
J progress of the mining and mctaliurgical in
duStries of the United States for the year
just closed are reviewed in the current
number of Engineering and Mining Journal.
dustrieS depend for fuel. is treated first.
TIL total production was estimated at S0t.-
"1a,o.0 short tons, an amount considerably
in excess of that brought TO the surface in
Great Britain and far beyond the quantity
mined in any other country. Nearly the en-
tire am unit was consumed at home, DESPITE
a material growth in exports.
The anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania
contributed one-fifth of the total. There
was great development Of thu bitumin us
deposits Of Pennsylvania. West Virginia.
Ohio. Illinois. Indiana and other Western
States. and the softer coal entered to a
greater extent than ever before into the
market for commercial and household fuel.
Production and consumption cf coke were
also larger than ever before. chiefly on ac-
count of the activity in the iron and steel
trades.
Texas Oil Discoveries.
The reviewer draws attention to the oil
discoveries in California and Texas. and
p~rOnOunces tn" latter the most important
since oil was found in Pennsylvania. He
predicts that both will have an important
bearing on the manufacturing interests of
the States named. and on the Southwest.
The iron trade show a production which
a few years ago would have been regarded
as impossible. and the quantity of pig iron
exceeded the output of Great Britain AMI
Germany combined. Raw iron. steel. and
finished products We're in an aggregate par
allel with that of pig iron. The enormous
output was not in excess of the demanI.
~ 81, 81 r. -.
and furnaces were almost all behind with
orders. Every indication points to equal
prosperity in 1852. for the larger plants have
engagements which will require a half year
to complete.
ore shipments from the Lake Superior
region exceeded COCO. GS tons. Export trade
in iron and steel showed Il material falling
off il comparison with 1890. and the home
market made up the deficiency.
Gold production showed an increase. and
amounted to between SS2.o0o. 001 and SS3. yO.-
coo California. Colorado and the Black
Hills region We're the heavy gold producers.
Silver made no gain over 1900. and cop
per fell off slishly-2.J0 tons. The Like
region. California and Utah.
showed gains in copper, but they did not
make up the shortage elsewhere. The re-
filming interests drew much more copper for
refining from foreign mines than in any
previous year.
There was some decrease in lead, arCer-
tifcrous lead falling off 2o,c9 tons and soft
lead increasing fo.G0.
Missouri Gains in Zinc.
Zinc showed a gain. with Missouri rs the
chief gamer. Exports Of zinc suffered,
however. |
Quicksilver and nickel made good prog
ress.
The chemical industries depending upon
products made satisfactory progress. |
In the nonmetallic minerals. including CO. I
nent and building stone. and the clay prod
lctS. the year was Il very prosperous one.
In conclusion, the reviewer says:
summing up the history of the year,
Ne may say briefly that the total produc-
of the mining and metallurgical indus
riCs of the United States considerably eX-
,eded the enormous total recorded in 1909.
while there is every prospect that a still
advance will be made in 1902.