Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-01
MINE PRODUCTION
RECORD BREAKER
Value of the U. S. Output in
1916 Is Estimated to Be
$1,000, ZOO, 900.
UNUSUAL PROFITS NOTED

Mines OF the United States produced
in record-breaking quantities In 1916.
accompanied by the greatest prcfits
the mining industry of the country has
ever known. according to a statement
issued today by the geological survey.
The value put upon the 1915 output of
the mines is. roughly. $4,000. 900. 900.
Production. II is estimated. has run at
least Is per cent ahead of 1915.
Never before" said Secretary Lane
today. has SO large a draft been made
on the mineral resources OF our coun-
try and never before have minerals
been extracted with less waste or
utilized to better advantage in ad-
vancing tho general prosperity OF the
country. The wonderful record Of our
mines this year sets forth a degree OF
national Industrial Independence only
hoped for few years ago"
Sensation Of the Year.
The copper output was the sensation
Of the year in the mining world. At
an average price Of 81 cents q pound
the 1916 production had a value OF
$520. 100000. compared with $z43, 600
the year before and $190.000.000 In 1913.
The profits were the greatest ever
known In the metal Prices averaged
slightly more than "a cents. as against
about II cents in 1915. Arizona led
all the states In copper production.
432.0o0.oO0 pounds the year before.
Montana came second with 350.000.000
pounds. and Michigan was third with
26s, 100000. Alaska mined l20.00o.0o0
1915 production. Tennessee alone OF
the copper states failed to increase Its
yield.
Great Yield in Iron.
Iron contends with copper for first place
among the metals produced. Shipments OF
iron ore this year. 1t is estimated. amount.
ed to s17S.000.000 In value. an increase OF
ST., 200. 900 over 1915. The country's
mines produced 75.5o0.000 gross tons.
against 55.0oo.00o the year before. Pro-
a record. with 100000 tons. against
30.000,000 tons in 1915. Iron ore In stock
at the mines Is put at 100000 tons. n
falling or Of 100000 tons since last
year.
Coal and Coke Records.
greatest ever known. The mines sold
5s7.500.000 tons. compared with $780,
100000. the record established In 1913.
The quantity Of bituminous coal mined
was sos 1000. 900. an increase Of $780,
600 over last year The Pennsyivania
anthracite production OF So, $4,000 tons
was a decrease of 100000.
The coke output in 1915 broke all
records. More than 35.0o0.o00 tons of
beehive coke were manufactured. an In
crease of q per cent over the year be-
fore, and 100000 tons more than the
record breaking total of 1910. By
product coke manufactured amounted
to 100000 tons, an increase OF 5.0o0s-
900 tons over 1915.
Crude Petroleum.
Preliminary estimates indicate Z per
cent more crude petroleum was mar
keted in 1916 than in 1915. The total
amount produced Is put at 2s2. 100000
barrels. About SO per cent OF thiA
came from the Oklahoma-Kansas field,
30 per cent from California and the
remainder from the Appalachian. lndi-
ana. Illinois. north Texas. north Lou
isiana, gulf coast and Rocky mountain
fields.
The 1916 domestic output of quick
silver was valued at Ss.S4s;o0o' the
X
1904 and the greatest In value since
1875. Figures for 1916 show an In
crease of IS per cent in quantity and 80
per cent in value over 1915. High
prices stimulated unusual activity In
the western states.
The value of spelter from United
states ore in 1916 was $150.OO0.000. The
output of zinc increased $4,000 tons,
making a new record for the metal.
Lead also sho s large Increase. the
$75. 100000 output representing gain
Of so per cent.
Big Gain in West.
Every western state shows O big min
ing gain. Arizona's output alone shows
an Increase of $1O0.0O0.000; Utah and
Montana combined show another $780,
600. 900. Ten mines in Arizona paid
s34. 600 600 in dividends during the year.
Utah, Montana, Nevada and Idaho. com"
bined. paid soc. 100000 in dividends.
Alaska also had its best mining yeess
a total value OF $ou.0OOss
900. 80 per cent gain over 1919.