The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-10-01
IOWA MINERALS
OF GREAT VALUE
LAST YEARS PRODUCT WORTH
OVER s17,50o,ooo.
DRAIN TILE RECORD BROKEN
Iowa Makes More Than Any Other
State-More Than 21,7o0,0oO
Paving Brick - Coal
Leads All.

LES MOlucS, Ill., oGpl' oV' ~ N"Ne'
for the mineral production of Iowa dur
ing 1907, which recently have been
compiled by the state geological sur
vey and which soon will be ready for
publication, show an unprecedented &C
tiyity in almost all lines of the min
eral industry. They indicate an in
crease in the value of the output for
the year of over sl,0OO,000 over that
OF 1906.
This is notable not merely as indi-
eating the gradual development Of
Iowa's resources, but even more as re-
yealing the ability of the business in
terests of the state to breast a period
of depression such as ruled during the
later months of the year, and to keep
up the production and distribution OF
the basic elements of the common
wealth's prosperity" said Assistant
State Geologist, James H. Lees.
IN a state which is pre-eminent
among the agricultural states of the
union an output Of products valued at
over ST. 5000 by the various indus
tries classed as mineral producers may
seem rather an inconsequential item,
and vet it is well to remember that
much of the wealth and prosperity of
a community is based upon those re-
sources under discussion. In support
of this statement may be cited the
drain tile industry.
''over large portion of broad belt
of central Iowa stretching north from
Des Moines to the state line and across
Minnesota drainage is an absolute pre-
requisite to successful farming. In
this region is located the greatest
drain tile manufacturing industry in
the world, with its center at Mason
City, which annually turns out more
drain tile than any other locality in
the world Rich banks of excellent
clay, scattered literally over the area
needing drainage have made possible
an industry which has brought to the
farmer success and prosperity instead
OF adversely and failure. 1t is plain to
be seen, then, that the mineral indus
try is to be judged not merely by COM
1 parison of it's figures with those of
bother industries but rather by it's in.
ffiiieaee upon them and by the bene
fits which they derive from its prose.
ctition.
Coal Leads All.
''Of the various minerals which Iowa
contributes to the nations wealth coal
easily ranks first in the value OF its
output. This has steadily increased
in late years until last year it totaled
over S12,25O,0O0 The exact figures for
tonnage are 7,574,322 short tons, val
ued at $12,25S.012, an average price
per ton of S1.62. Twenty-three coun-
ties are producers and employ total
OF 1885 men. Monroe county is the
lending county, contributing nearly q
100000 tons, while Polk is second
with a yield OF l 900 900 tons less, and
Appanoose is third, having an output
of 1,125,000 tons. Iowa continues to
hold ninth place in the list of produc-
ing states, although in value of output
she ranks eighth. This is due to the
higher average price per ton of Iowa
Goals, which is greater than that of
any other of the great producers.
"fn the manufacture Of clay wares
Iowa holds ninth place. The value OF
her output is s2.733476, an increase
over the preceding year of SO per
cent.
ft1-It is In the making of drain tile, as
already stated, that Iowa holds prece-
dei1ce over all other states. The tile
made in 1907 was valued at slightly
over 100000, to which total Cerro
Gordo county contributed almost $780,
Ob5 and Polk 1851, 900. Notwithstand-
iiig the great increase in the manufac-
tire Of cement drain tile there was an
increase Of almost II per cent in the
output of clay tile during the year.
although Iowa is not a leader in
the manufacture of paving brick. this
branch of the industry is showing
gratifying growth and there were mar
keted nearly 21,70O,OO0 paving brick
and block made in the state, 20 per
cent more than were put out in 1906.
The outlook for the present year
is very favorable to an increased pro-
duction in drain tile and sewer pipe.
Large plants are under construction
or have been recently built at various
places in the state.
Great Stone Production.
while Iowa does not rank high in
the production of stone, the quantity
and value of crushed stone produced
show large increase. This is doubt
less attributable to the rapid strides
made In the uses of concrete and also
in road improvement. OF the s644,593
worth OF limestone produced, s11S,6S2
were for concrete and $69,S17 for road
making Scott county has a long
lead In the production OF crushed
stone, marketing s104,455 worth, while
Jones leads In the output OF other
stone with $4,000 TO her credit. Jack
son coupty is the leading lime burner,
and Cerro Gordo is second.
For the last two years the survey
has collected figures on the output of
sand and gravel While from the ma
ture of the case 1t Is impossible to Sc