Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1909-12-07
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.
The Mineral Production in North Carolina
During 1908 Somewhat Less Than 1907.

general business depression that
sweps over this country during
the latter part of 1907 and the
greater portion of 1908 had a de-
cided effect upon the mineral pro-
duction of North Carolina during
1908. This was felt especially in
the building stone and clay pro-
duct Industries, which are largely
dependent upon building trades
for their market. As these form
by tar the largest portion Of the
mineral production of the State,
there was, consequently, q consi-
derable falling off in the total
value. It's effect, however, was
also noticed in the production of
practically all OF the minerals
of the State, there being but one
or two that showed any increase
in production for 1908 over that
of 1907.
The total value of the mineral
production for 1908 was $780,
116, as compared with So, 173, 1872,
value of 1907 production, a de-
crease of $766, 6O6. THIS mineral
production can be readily divided
into four divisions:
l. The production of the metals,
gold, silver, copper and iron;
2. The production of non metal
lie minerals, as tale, barytes,
etc.;
3. Structural materials, as
building stone, brick, etc.; and,
4. Pottery clay.
There is given in the table be-
low the value of the 1908 produce
tion divided up according to these
divisions:
Metals. 1T, 900
Non-metallic minerals -. 259, 9O2
Structural materials III, I'll, SOB
Pottery and pottery
clay 99,Oll
Total value. ..... 50, 3O7.116
In the production CT the preci-
GUS metals, North Carolina easily
maintains first place in Eastern
States, although it's total produc.
ton is small. The gold produc.
ton of 1908 was 4,716.3 80 fine oun-
ces, valued at $97 1876, an increase
of 740.24 fine ounces, and of $751;
3O2 90 in value over the produc.
tion of 1907. The &C unity produce
ing the largest amount of this
production was Montgomery, with
Rowan second. The output of
silver and copper, which are very
closely related to each other, was
very greatly below the production
Of 1907, the copper being valued
at only $ $3.50, as compared with
SIG, 40, the value of the 1907
production. All of the principal
copper mines were idle during
1908.
In the non-metallic minerals
there was a slight increase in the
production of millstones, but a
decided decrease in the produce
ton of all the others.
The value of the structural ma
t%erials produced during 1908, of
81, III. SOB, was a decrease of
1886, Ais, as compared with 3d.
161,01S, the value of the produc.
ton of 1907. The greatest de-
crease vas in the production of
granite and common brick. In
1907 the value of the granite pro-
duction was 1905, 476, while in
1908 it cropped to $S02,927, a de-
crease of SOB, $40. The produc-
ton Of common brick in 1907 was
ia, $50, 900, valued at 81, $50, 1856,
while the production of 1908 has
fallen off to IA, 1872 900 brick,
valued at 5000, GIL. There were
slight gains in the production of
sandstone, marble, and lime.
The value of the production of
pottery clays In 1908 waw $780,.
|O11, an increase of SO, 284, as com.
pared with $95, 757, the value of
the 1907 production. With
the exception of gold, the pro-
duction Of all the minerals
Is aft cted by the financial con-
dition of the country, and i'll
many cases the increase or de-.
crease in the production of a min
eral is entirely due to increased
prosperity or financial depression
of the country. With some of
the minerals, however, the de-
crease is due to other causes, such