The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-24
DR. GEORGE OTIS SMITH DELIv- FRS INTERESTING ADDRESS TO AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS, SAYS PRODUCTION STATISTICS PULSE OF NATIONS LIFE.

The following is synopsis of the very able address of Dr. George Otis Smith, di- rector of the United States geological sur vey:
 The subject, the Distribution of the Nations Mineral Wealth, eminently fits both the place and the occasion. The city of Pittsburg. rightly termed the worlds industrial wonder is founded on the min eral resources of not only Pennsylvania, but indeed of the whole country, while you members of the American mining congress represent the industry that has enabled this nation to realize rich in- come from it's mineral heritage. Nor is it inappropriate that a representative of the United States Geological Survey should bring to your attention facts relat- ing to the distribution of this mineral wealth. In the 90 years since it's organi- zation this federal bureau has recorded the development of the mineral industry, and to indicate how phenomenal has been this development l need only cite the fact that during these three decades the mln- coal production of the nation has increased skiold.
 Last year. at the Joplin session of the mining congress, I had occasion to refer to the probability that the value of the mineral output for 1907 would pass the two billion dollar mark. The statistics since collected have verified that estimate, showing the value of the 1907 mineral pro- duction to be over $2,061 O0O,O00 In 1879 Congress expressed it's appreciation of the importance of the nations mineral wealth by establishing a scientific bureau charged with the investigation of these resources, and now, three decades later, the mineral industry making as it does an annual contribution to the nation skiold greater, truly deserves further recognition
 Notable Features.
 We should not leave this topic of the 30 years development without mention of certain notable features in the growth of the mineral industry. In 1880 the non- metallic products constituted 40 per cent of the total mineral production of the country; in 1907 fully 57 per cent. This in crease in relative importance of the non- metallic products has not been regular in- asmuch as metals have exhibited a ten dency to be more quickly affected by gen. eral business conditions with the result that for the year 1894, for instance, the. non-metallc percentage rose 10 65 per cent and again in 1904 to 63 per cent.
 The pages since 1880 can only be studied in another manner. Then, in order of value of output coal stood first, with iron second, followed by gold, silver petro- leum, lime, building stone, copper, lead and salt. In last years production, after coal and iron came copper, clay products, petroleum, gold, stone, cement, natural gas and lead. You, will note that in this column of the ten most important min eral products, coal, iron, petroleum ana building stone have maintained their rel ative positions notwithstanding the SIX fold total increase. Copper has advanced -.-.l-kI 4l ,s,-1 f.la nvld n dropped from third position to sixth, lead from ninth to tenth and silver to just be- hind lead. The newcomers in the 1907 list as contrasted with that of 1880 are clay products, cement and natural gas.
 Production statistics are the pulse or tho nations material life and these differ- ences in relative growth are significant symptoms in the development of the min eral industry. They indicate present ten dencies in the utilization of the nations mineral wealth, and indeed the relative importance of the different minerals con- sidered from the national point of view, which is that of industrial growth
 Geologic Factors.
 The distribution of mineral wealth de- bends on geologic factors and different geologic provinces are characterized by deposits of different minerals. Herein lies the value of much of purely geologic study. Thus an important part or the surveys work through these years has been to keep the country informed as to the occurrence of economic minerals. Not only has the survey statistician been recording the increasing activity of mine, furnace and smelter, but the survey ge- oogist has been mapping and measuring the nations mineral deposits and inves- tigating the possibilities of new discover ies of the mineral fuels and ores. In the last few weeks the result of this great in ventory, which it has taken years to make, has been brought together in the report submitted to the national conser-