Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-12
Slate Industry Improves Slightly
Production in 1916.


The sales of slate in the United
States in 1916 amounted to s5,33S,SS7,
an increase of II per cent, according
to the United States Geological Survey,
Department of the Interior. The mill
stock sold in 1915 amounted to 5,7ss,-
SAP square feet, valued at SLIT. $50, n
gain Of rs per cent in quantity and i3
per cent in value. The price of mill
stock in 1916, 20 cents square foot,
was greater than in any other year.
and the total value exceeded tha. OF
any of the eight preceding years ex-
cept 1913 This encouraging increase
in mill stock was offset by decrease
ir the sales of roofing slate, which
amounted to SS5,s7S squares, a de-
crease of nearly IA per cent compared
with 1915 and the lowest since 1896.
The value of roofing slate in 1916. the
lowest since 1898, was s3,40S.934. which
was per cent less than in 1915. The
average price per, square however. rose
from $3.s7 In 1915 to s4.0S. the highest
price on record. The decrease in the
sales Of roofing slate.~in spite 81 the
great Increase in building during 1915.
L. due to the facts that many Of the
buildings erected were fiat rooted and
that artificial roofing materials were
used instead Of slate The increased
cost Of metals and the demand for
them for other uses and the increased
cost Of other materials used In arti-
fetal roofing may give slate an oppor-
tunity to recover some Of this lost
ground. The sales Of slate for other
uses increased greatly in 1915.
The producing states were the same
as In 1915. with the addition Of Cali
fornia. Pennsylvania and Vermont.
the two leading states. showed respec-
tive increases of about and 30 per
cent In total value of slate sold The
other states also showed increase. ex-
cept Maryland. Virginia. and New
York. whose entire production con-
sisted of roofing slate.
Exports and imports
The value of the roofing slate ex-
ported in 1916 was only s27,630, COM
pared with $46,137 in 1915, showing q
continuance of the decrease in exports
since the outbreak of the war. Eng
land, which had been the largest user
of American slate. imported no slate
from this country in 1915 or 1916. Tho
largest user in these two years was
SdHdusi, WIllCIl III 1910 imported AlNPll-
can slate valued at $4,000.
The value of exports OF slate for
purposes other than roofing in 1915
was s53,652, over So per cent Of which
was represented by slate from Penn
sylvania, and most of the remainder
by slate from Maine and Vermont.
Nearly half the total value was in
school states, and about two ifths in
slate for electrical use, principally on
switchboards.
The imports of slate for consumption
in the United States have for years
been insignificant and in 1915 were
valued at only $4,000.
School States
For sanitary reasons school states
have not been in favor in many Ameri-
can and English cities for several
years, but now that paper has become
scarce and expensive there is n move
nent to return to the use OF school
states. with due precautions. This
change in England has been urged In
recent editorials Of the Slate Trade
Gazette, and it may be desirable in
America also. By the use Of a dilute
antiseptic solution for washing. in
stead Of tap water. the slate and
sponge can be kept free from the germs
OF disease.