New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-07
MINERAL RESOURCES.
Those of the United States Discussed
in Report to Geological Surrey.
[rRon rHE 1RInuNE puREAr. ]


Washington Aug. 6.-Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt has
made an interesting report to the Geological sur
vey certain mineral resources OF the Chiled
States.
Speaking of asbestos Or. Pratt reports that the
total production of 1902 1005 short tons valued
at $780, chiefly from the mines of Sail Mountain
White County Ga. The production Of asbestos IN
the United States has never been over l29o tons a
year and when these figures compared with
imported. which is almost ehtrely OF
the chrysotile variety Il will be appreciated how
large is the demand for this variety. The total
value of the imports OF asbestos in 1902 was 500
432, compared with $691S2s in 1901 with s509'9aL
1900 and with 206S in 1899. increase OF over
100 per cent in four years. Nearly all the asbestos
imported into the United States is obtained from
the province Of Quebec, Canada The value OF the
Canadian product in 1902 Sl14s,319, as compared
w.,n s11S64 34 1901 with S163431 in 1900 and with
$3.50 in 1899 increase Of about 2l9 per cent in
the four years.
OF the production of tale and soapstone Dr.
Pratt reports that 1t amounted exclusive of the
fbrous tale of New-York to $50 short tons
valued at $413497, compared with @643 tons
valued S424SS8 in 1901 decrease of 1908 tons i'll
quantity and only $11,S91 in value the small de-
crease in value being due TO smaller production
Of the inferior grades Of tale
There was a considerable decrease II the amount
of rough tale sold. and of this amount nearly one
half of North Carolina production. While there
has been decrease in tonnage of the manufactured
articles, there has been large increase IN NaIue'
increase
tale which manufactured into taiors penciIS
and gas tips and to the expensive articles mace
from the Virginia soapstone. Nearly all the VIZ
GINA product is put the market in the form OF
manufactured articles. Most of that from New
Jersey Pennsylvania and Maryland is put on the
market as ground tale. The production OF the
fbrous tale mined in St Lawrence County y. y
and used principally for the one purpose of paper
making, amounted TO 7ll00 short tons, valued at
$65,350 increase OF &131 $50 in value, but or only
in a
ton of 5000 short tons valued at $4S360o in 1901
The tale imported into this country, chiefly from
France and Italy, valued at 1886 in 1902 as
compared with ST 05 in 1901 and with S070 in 1900
The production of other minerals covered in this
report may be summed up as follows; Lithium
minerals 1870 tons valued $3 100 at the railroad
increase of 100 tons over 1901 but accompanied by
q decrease IN value of $3.50 crude barytes to the
amount of 65548 short tons valued at S959S3, were
produced in 1902.
The production of fuorspar for 1902 amounted to
48018 short tons valued at S27lS14, compared
with 1856 tons valued $113.S03 in 1901 OF this
production 1870 short tons, valued at $22iS4, are
reported to have been sold in the crude state. as
compared with $50 short tons, valued at ST,00 in
1891. an increase of 1850 tons in quantity and OF
S147314 in value. There was increase OF the
price Of both the crude and the ground fuorspar,
Me average price for the crude being IS 10 a ton
increase of 19 cents the price for 1901 ana
for the ground the price averaged 50 e an increase
of &c cents over the price for 1901. Besides the
above production, there sou IONS OF HuOISPdI
mined but not put on the market
Cryolite used in the manufacture Of aluminium
and sodium saIts. is imported from Greenland. The
imports for 1902 amounted to 6,188 long tons valued
at $3.50, compared with 1888 tons, valued at
$70.886 in 1901. and with 5,437 tons in 1900
California was the only State producing any
chromite in 1902, the quantity being 315 TONS
valued $4725 This is a decrease of 53 tons in
quantity and of a1,065 in value compared with
the production in 1901, which 1858 long tons,
ToO Ctcoc osfare m
ing field for the erection Of a chemical plant %
treat chrome ores in the manufacture of various
chromium salts. these ores can be obtained IN
California With the completion of the railroad
from Erwin. Tenn, to Marion, n. c, the chromlte
deposits of Yancey County n. c., will undoubtedly
be thorough exploited and may become produc-
ers. There Is large amount of chronaite ore I'M
ported eacn year into this country, the most of
which is from Turkey, with small amounts from
New-Caledonia and Canada The imports OF
chrome ore and chronic acid in 1902 were valued
at S593,72 The principal chronic deposits OF
Canada near Black Lake and Coleraine, QUE
bee Province. The Canadian production for 1902
was 800 long ton, valued at $1,000
Dr. Joseph Struthers has also contributed a chap
ter phosphate rock in which it is shown that
the phosphate rock industry of Florida and South
Carolina is gradually recovering from the setback
it received in 1900. In Florida the decrease COM
pared with 1901 in the production of hard rock and
river pebble more than compensated by the
large increase OF land pebble produced although
there was decrease in the total value Of the
product In South Carolina there was slight de-
crease in both quantity and value. and in Tennes-
see there was q slight decrease in production and
a slight increase in value of product. II should
be borne in mind that the marketed output rather
than the rock actually mined is made the basis of
the report production of phosphate rock. The
figures for 1902 and 1901 respectively. are as fol-
lows: Florida 430 long tons, valued S2564197
as against 1886 long tons, valued at S3159473;
South Carolina, 1885, long tons, valued at SJ9 rs
as against 32, long tons. valued at 1851 $40 Ten
nessee, 390799 long tens, valued at $L1S2G90;
production for United States in 1902, 190314 long
tons. valued at $4683444 compared with 1883, .
long tons valued S. Bis 403, in 1901 ncreas Sc in
quantity Of 6,5sl long tons and decrease in value
of $622,959