The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-09
Value of the Mineral Product of
the United States.
For the First Time Requires 10
Figures to Express 1t.
IRON AND COAL ALONE
Reached a Combined Value of
$566,OOO,OOO.
Output of Gold Is S79,17l,OOO
a Gain of Eight Millions.

Washington Jan. 9.-The value of the
mineral products of 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 1067, sos, COG, as COM
pared with 1871, 900, 1874, in 1899, a gain of
$95,702, 712, or 9S5 per cent Iron and
coal alone yielded more than half of
the grand total, their combined value
being over $3.50, 600 900.
The statistical summary of the pro-
duction of the various minerals already
has been published. OF the total iron
ore output of q, 553, 161 long tons, the
Lake Superior region, embracing mines
IN Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota,
produced it's maximum output of 20, 564,
23S long tons or rs per cent of the to-
tai for the United States. The Mesaba
range in Minnesota alone produced s.,
15S,450 long tons, or 80 per cent of the
total domestic product.
The total value at the mines of the
27,503,l61 long tons produced in 1900, was
S66, $50, 1904, as compared with $34, 1893, 917
in 1899 gain of 1925 per cent. The av-
erage price was $2.42 per long ton, as
compared with $1.42 per ton in 1899,
gain of 7O.4 per cent. The lowest price
per ton was 81 cents in Texas, (where
convict labor is an element in mining)-
The highest price was $371 in Colorado.
OF 19,059,393 long tons shipped from the
Lake Superior region in 1900, only 49S,-
0S7 tons went by rail, over 100000
long tons went to furnaces at Chicago
and in Michigan and Wisconsin and
over 100000 tons went to lower lake
ports, of which the three ports of
Ashtabula, Cleveland and Conneaut in
Ohio receive more than 100000 tons.
The report shows that pig iron pro-
duction in 1900 increased LA per cent
in tonnage and over per cent in value
over the record breaking year 1899. The
total steel production was a decrease
of over 100000 long tons, from 1899.
The most important gains in gold pro-
duction were in the Seward peninsula
of Alaska, the Cripple Creek district of
Colorado and in Arizona. The yield for
the year, was valued at $79,1771, 900,
gain of IS, 500 over 1899.
The silver output was of the CONNER
cial value of $35, 741, 140. 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 in
creased, thus fixing the United States
worlds producers. Next to this the
most interesting feature of the produc-
ton of 1900 was the marked increase in
value compared with the increase i'll
tonnage The production in 1900 was
269, SS1, S27 short tons, valued at 1906, 891,-
1854 the increase over 1899 being more
than 16,0O0,O0O tons in amount and more
than $4,000, 900 in value. The strike in
the anthracite region cut short its out
put by probably 5000. 900 long tons and
cost the miners something over $10.000,
900 in wages, and the strike in the Cum
berland region decreased Maryland's
production about 100000 long tons, as
compared with 1899. The advance in
value of bituminous coal was unprece-
dented, the average price per ton hav-
ing risen from 81 cents in 1899 to $1.04
in 1900.
The exports of coal in 1900 amounted
to only little over 8 per cent of the
total product, and the imports were still
smaller. Fully 95 per cent of the total
coke production in 1900 of 20, 033. 34S short
tons, an increase of 864779 tons over
1899, was taken from the Appalachian
fields which embrace the great coking
regions of Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee. The
average value per short ton of coke at
the ovens in 1899 was s1.76. in 1900 it
was 1921.
The crude petroleum production ex-
ceeded all records. a large increase be-
ing especially noted in West Virginia,
California, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas.
The Texas development was chiefly in
1901. over 81 per cent. of the total pro-
duction came from the Appalachian and
Lima, Ind, fields. The indications for
1901 are for a largely increased output
Of