Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-10
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS
VALUE OF MINERAL PRODUCTS OF
THE COUNTRY.
Report of the Geological Survey-The
United states First Among the
Producer. Pr Coal.

The value of the mineral products or the
United States in 1900 exceeded for the first
time the billion-dollar mark, according to
the geological survey report on mineral re-
sources which has just been issued. The
exact figures were 81 .967 .6036 06, as COM
pared with $971, ,S94 in 1899, gain of
sos, 7O2 712 or 9.S5 per cent. Iron and coal
alone yielded more than half of the grand
total. their combined value being over $685.
100000 The statistical summary of the
production of the various minerals already
has been published. OF the total iron ore
output of 81, 533, 161 long tons the Lake Su-
perior region, embracing mines in Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, produced
it's maximum output of 20564, 23S long tons,
or 10 per cent of the total for the United
States The Mesabi range in Minnesota
alone produced S15S,4J0 long TONS or 30
per cent of the total domestic product.
The total value at the mines of the b.
533, 1G1 long tons produced in 1900 was $780,
$50, sJ04, as compared With $34,939.oIT In 1893,
a gain of 1925 per cent
The report shows that pig iron production
in 1900 Increased 1.24 per cent in tonnage
and over per cent in value over the rec
ord breaking year 1899. The total steel pro-
duction was a decrease of over 100000 long
tons from 1892
The most important gains in gold produc-
ton were in the Seward peninsular Of
orado and in Arizona. The yield for the
year was valued at $79,171OO0, a gain of
S. III 600 over 1882
The silver output was of the commercial
value of $780, TAI, 40. The report notes great
activity for the year in old and new copper
properties. "
In 1899 the production Of coal in the
United States exceeded for the first time
that of Great Britain; in 1900 the lead over
Great Britain was much Increased thus fix
ing the United States firmly in the first
place among the worlds producers. Next
to this the most interesting feature of the
production of 1900 was the marked increase
in value compared with the increase in ton
mage. The production in 1900 was 269, $751;
S27 short TONS valued at $500, S91 1854, the in
crease over 1889 being more than 100000
tons in amount and more than $50 OO0, GOO
In value.
The strike in the anthracite region cut
short its output by probably 100000 long
tons and cost the miners something over
$4,000, 900 In wages, and the strike in the
Cumberland region decreased Maryland's
production about 100000 long tons COM
pared with 1899. The advance in value of
bituminous coal was unprecedented, the
average price per ton having risen from 81
cents in 1899 to $1.04 in 1900
The exports of coal in 1900 amounted to
only a little over per cent of the total
product, and the imports were still smaller.
Fully 50 per cent Of the total coke pro-
duction in 1900 of 20, 533, 34S short TONS an
increase of 1854, 779 tons over 1899, was taken
from the Appalachian fields, which en-
brace the great coking regions of Pennsyl-
vania West Virginia. Alabama, Virginia
and Tennessee. The average value per
short ton of coke at the ovens in 1899 was
1.76; In 1900 it was 81. 81.
The crude petroleum production exceeded
all records. a large increase being especially
noted in West Virginia, California, Ohio,
Indiana and Texas. The Texas develop
ment was chiefly in 1901. Over 81 per cent
Of the total production came from the APP
palachian and Lima Indiana fields.