Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-17
s5,s6s.34s ss.M9,22O

S,G6S,3P $6.0l9,22O
The statistics presented by the survey
represent the output Of slate as report
ed directly by the quarrymen. and In
cllde the quantity and value Of roofing
slate and mill stock sold by them. as
we'll as the value Of slate sold for other
purposes. Tho quantity OF mill stock and
other slate Is given for the frst time.
PRODUCTION OF ROOFING SLATE
The production OF roofing slate re-
ported in Ion was 1877 .5j4 squares,
valued Mt s4Sl7.169-an increase n 62,Sl2
squares In quantity and of s36S9s3 In
value over the production in 1906. An in
crease in value per square from $3.50 in
1905 to s377 In 1907 was also reported
Square as applied to roofing slate
put on tho market, means sufficient
number Of pieces OF slate OF any size 10
cover 100 square feet Of surface OF roof
allowing a 3-inch lap. The approximate
weight OF roofing slate OF ordinary
thickness Ia Go pounds per square, and
the slate Is generally shipped in lots
| of 30 to 100 squares per carload, accord
Ing to the size OF the pieces.
The sizes of slate in square range
from "a to l6 inches to Q by ! inches.
and the number of pieces necessary
ranges from S. TO Csc. according to the
size. The thickness OF ordinary slate Is
from one-eight t. three sixteenths OF an
inch. the thicker states commanding the
higher prices. The price per square de-
ponds also on size of pieces. quality,
uniformity Of thickness, smoothness
and straightness. Color, which varies
considerably. is another factor affect
ing price. Prices per square for slate
OF good quality and ordinary thickness
range from s3,75 to 80 free on board at
quarries. the New York red slate bring
Ing the highest prices Slate OF inferior
quality or color may be quoted MS low
as $2,75 per square, and squares OF Sc
an inch thick are quoted at much high
er prices.
PRODUCTION OF MILL STOCK.
Besides its use for roofing. slate Is
utilized for blackboards. school states.
flooring. sinks. laundry tubs. grave
vaults. sanitary ware, electrical switch
boards. billiard and laboratory table
tops. mantels, hearths. and caps. Slate
used for these purposes Is known as
mill stock, and Is either sold by the
quarrymen to milling companies or Is
milled by the quarry operators them
selves. 1t is generally sold In the form
Of slabs from inch to inches thick.
the price varying according TO thickness
and 10 the work done on tho slab.
Maine. Pennsylvania. and Vermont pro-
duce nearly all the mill slate. and Penn
sylvania reported the only slate used In
1907 for blackboards and school states.
The value o. mill stock. including
that OF slate sold for other purposes.
decreased from 81 ol9,56O in 1906 to 81
20l 45l in 1907, n loss OF $500 This de-
crease was probably caused by the
strike affecting almost all the quarries
OF the Vermont-New York region.
which began In May. 1907. and was still
In progress In May. lans. when the sur
vey report was prepared.
DOMINANCE OF THE ROOFING
SLATE INDUSTRY.
As indicated hy the figures Of pro.
duction. the greater part OF the slate
qunrried In the United States Is made
into roofing states. These states are
produced almost entirely in the north
eastern part Of the country but are
thlpped all over the United States and
also exported TO a small extent. A few
years ago, during the strikes in the
famous Welsh auarries, they were ship
ped IN large quantities to England and
English colonies. The great durability
Of slate as a roofing material overcomes
to n large extent the disadvantages OF
It's weight on the roof and Of It's cost
rs COMPARED with cheaper and lighter
materials.
Practically no slate is imported into