The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-03
NEW JERSEYS
IRON MINES
The Iron Ore Output III this
State Shows a Satisfac-
tory Increase Yearly.
MORRIS COUNTY THE LEADER.

/ The twenGy-seventh annual report
of the Bureau Of Statistics Of New
Jersey contains a chapter devoted to q
| presentation Of the iron-mining and
J iron-smelting industries Of the State
which shows the products Of the
mines and BLAST furnaces for a period
Iof nine years, or from 1895 to 1903
| both years included A review of the
1 beginnings Of these Industries in col
onial days and their subsequent
growth up to a comparatively modern
period forms an interesting part oi
the report.
/ The statistics of iron ore production
Igo back to 1890, for which the record
ed product, mined mainly ID Hibernia,
Norris county, was ten thousand
tons.
The increase in the quantity of ore
produced was for many years there
after intermittent and very small, SO
that iii 1855 the volume Of product
lhad only reached one hundred thou
sand tons. During the next eighteen
ears much more rapid progress was
made, the quantity Of ore reported as
being mined for 1873 being six hun
dred and seventy Thousand tons.
The prices, however, were brought
down very low in consequence Of the
greatly decreased demand following
the financial panic Of 1873.
A consequent curtailment of pro
duction followed, which reduced the
output of ore to onlytwo hundred and
eighty-five thousand tons ia 1876.
This was the lowest point to which
production descended in the history
up to that time; prices fell so low
that under them the mere wages OF
labor could not be realized on sales,
land the mines were therefore closed,
necessitating the removal Of large
part of the mining population to other
districts in searchof employment.
The gradual revival Of business
which followed the depression Of 1873
infused new life into the iron-mining
industry IN New jersey, SO that IN
1879 the product OF ore was four hum
dred and thirty thousand tons: a year
later 1t was seven hundred and forty
five thousand tons, and IN 1882 it
reached grand total Of nine hu
dred and twenty-five thousand tons
This was The greatest quantity Of ore
mined in any single year knownto the
history Of the industry in New Jersey,
Again decline set in Immediately
after The great record OF 1882, and
each year that followed showed a
steady decrease until, In 1898, only
one hundred and thirty-three thou
sand six hundred and four tons were
mined, which was the smallest pro-
duct recorded since the industry first
assumed serious proportions up to the
present time.
From 1895 to 1899, a condition Of
general depression existed all through.
the irun-mining districts OF the State,
the highest product Of any one Of
these years being that of 1899, when
one hundred and ninety-tWo thou
sand five hundred and seyenty-dye
tons of ore were mined.
During the four years, from 1895
to and Including 1898, only two iron
mines In the State were in operation.
In 1899, there were five mines pro-
ducing ore; in 1900, there were six;
in 1901, seven; and during the years
1902 and 1903, eight mines were open
and at work, and for the latter year
the product was four hundred and
fifteen thousand eight hundred and
sixteen tons of ore, which surpassed
that Of any year since 1882.
The leading facts relating TO the
industry brought out by the report OF
the Bureau OF Statistics are as follows:
From 1895 to and including 1908 the
quantity of iron ore mined in New
Jersey amounted to two million one
hundred and sixty-five Thousand five
hundred and sixty-four tons, the sell
ing value of which was So, l40,674, OF
an average price OF S2.37 per ton.
The highest price per ton obtained
flor ore during these years was $4,
which was paid in 1902, and the low
est price, $3.50 per ton, occurs in 1895
and also in 1897.
These ores are all magnetic, and
included ia the total is thirty thou
sand and fifty-nine tons Of the man
geniferous" quality.
The greatest number OF persons
employed at any time during the
period covered by the inquiry was
one Thousand five hundred and nine
teen, IN 1902, and smallest number
| four hundred and eighty-two, occurs
| in 1895; the average number employed
| for the nine years was eight hundred
ana sixty-eight,
The aggregate amount diSbursec
| for wages at all the mines from 1885,
| to 1903 was So, ,212 ,4S7, and for all
other operating expenses the sum ex
/ pended WIS Sl,602.927. Deductins
both these items from the S5,l40,6Is
received from the sale Of all the ore'
mined, there remains as a result o.
| the operations Of nine years an ap
parent profit balance Of 1925 ,260
.Hhe mines were operated at los
| TO the pr0prietOrs during the yea
1 1902, the total amount realized on thI
| sale OF ore having fallen 8lL597. q
short OF the SUM expended for Wagel
and other operating expenses.
| The average yearly earning 0
iminers was lowest Iii 1886, the amount
being $32404; each year thereafte
shows steady increase, the hlgfeS
mimi having hepn reached In 1903