The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-11-04
MINERAL INDUSTRY IN IOWA.

The Iowa Geological Survey in CO.
operation with the United States Geo
logical Survey has compiled the STA
tistics of mineral production in Iowa
for 1914. 1t is gratifying to be able
to state that the value of the output
was S26, 301 1865, which is higher than
any previous figure of record. In 1913
the value of the output was $2j,6l2,-
345 and in 1912 the value WAS $22,-
91Q,066. A comparison of the value
of the output in 1914 with that of
1904 shows that the value in 1914 eX-
ceeded that of 1904 by $11,346,S65,
which is an increase of more than
seventy-five per cent in decade.
Coal continues to be the chief miner.
al produced. Its value at the mines
in 1914 was I3,364,O70, which is
$132,G40 less than the value for 1918
The five leading coal-producing Coun
ties in 1914 in order Of tonnage were
Monroe, Polk, Appanoose, Dallas and
Marion. These FIVE counties pro
duced more than six million toms OF
the total tonnage, which was 74G1'
.U22 tons Monroe county alone pro-
ducing 2273,C6G tons. The first
three of the five counties mentioned
have retained the same order Of pro-
duCtion for more than ten years.
For many years previous to 1913,
Mahaska county ranked fourth; in
1914 this county ranked sixth. In
1914 the average number of men en-
ployed in coal mining was 16,057, in
1913 the number was 1857.
The value of clay and clay prod
ucts, which includes brick ard tile,
pottery and raw clay. WAS $780,
995 in 1914; in the previous year the
value fas $5,57J,57l. In no year in
the history OF the state has the out
put OF 1914 been exceeded. The val
ues OF the outputs in the three chief
producing counties were: CerrO Cor
do county S1,555,944 Webster coun.
ty. $l,179,113, and Polk county. $685.
9G7 Iowa continues TO lead all other
states in the United States In the
production of drainage tile. The
value of this product sold in Iowa in
1914 was $3180.836. Wapello Coun-
ty leads in the production of pottery.
Since the year 1911 there have
been three large modern cement
plants in Iowa, two OF which are To-
Gated at Mason City, the third at Des
Moines. In 1914 the output OF these
three plants had a value OF $4,00S,-
915. The highest figure previous
to this year was in 1913 when the
value of the output was $3,972,S76.
Although the output has been in
creasing year by year there Is every
reason to believe that the maximum
yearly output has not yet been
reached. The three pants are thor
Oughly equipped and there are
abundant supplies of linn Sstone and
shale, which are the materials being
used in Iowa for cement making.
The gypsum industry IN iowa is in
a most fourishiCg condition. In
1914 the value or the output from
Webster county the center OF the
industry, was s1,32l,45 the largest
figure OF record for the state.
The value OF stone and lime in 1914
was $59i,6S1 compared with $554.sii
in the previous year. A large part
OF the stone was used for concrete
and railroad ballast.
The value OF sand and gravel pro-
duced in Iowa in 1914 was $3.50, 1858:
in 1918 the value OF the output was
$685. G6, The value of mineral vat
ers in 1914 was $30,179, and OF other
products including mineral paints.
sand-lime brick and natural gas was
SIS. 700.
The following table gives the value
OF The production OF Iowa in 1914.
For comparison the figures for 1915
are given also:
Mineral. 1914. 1913.
Coal $500. s1s,ssl.07O sls.4sG,7iO
Clay and clay
products -. G,405.99o 5.J75,5Sl
Stone & lime 594.6Sl 554.8i4
Gypsum 1.3Zf.4g7 f.157, 939
Lead and zine ~ also
Mineral waters 3o,179 1863
Sand ana sravel 5se, 1893 s2s'Qss