The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-01
LIMESTONE IN 1917.
More in Value But Not in Quantity
Than in 1916.

Than In 1916.
The value of the limestone produced
in the United States in 1917 increased
$4,953,7s0 (l2 per cent?, but the guam.
tity decreased about $4,000 short tons
tsix per cent? The total output for 1917,
as compiled from reports made by the
producers to G. F. Loughlin, United
States geological survey, department of
the Interior, was 63,485000 short tons,
valued at 6,263,379, and represented 76
per cent of the quantity and Sc per cent
of the value of all stone quarried in the
United States. The average price was 70
cents short ton in 1917, which was IL
cents more than in 1915.
The production OF limestone for Use in
the manufacturing industries was greater
both in quantity and in value in 1917,
but the increase in quantity for this use
was not sufficient to Offset the large de-
crease in building, riprap, and crushed
stone, although the increase in the price
of all products brought the total value
up to an amount greater than that in
1916. The number of active operators in
1917 was ,465, which was 2lS less than
in 1916. Many small quarries that sup
ply local markets were entirely closed
during 1917, owing to lack of demand,
scarcity Of labor, and high wages, as well
as increased cost of supplies and substi-
tuition of cheaper material
Forty-four states produced limestone
in 1917, two more than in 1916 In 1916
Hawaii reported pulyerized limestone
sold for agriculture but none in 1917. In
1917 Maine, which reporaI no output in
1916, reported small qasntity Of stone
sold to paper mills. Ml@ssippi for the
first time reported a small output of
limestone, which Was wyerized stone
for use in agriculture and was crushed
at the state penitentiary at Waynesboro
Wayne county, and at Okolona, Chcka-
saw county. Nevada for the first time re-
ported stone shipped for furnace aux,
sugar manufacture and other minor uses,
from Sloan, Clark county, and from Lud-
wig and Mason, Lyon county OF the to-
tai producing states, 33 increased in value
of output. Washington, Rhode Island,
Oregon, South Dakota, Wyoming, Massa-
chusetts, and New Mexico, which rank
among the states that produce smaller
quantities Of limestone, showed gains of
100 to sos per cent. The increase in
Washington and Rhode Island was in
stone for tluxing; in Wyoming, South
Dakota and Oregone' in stone for sugar
factories; in New Mexico for crushed
stone, and in Massachusetts, in ground
limestone for agriculture. The other
states that reported increase in output
showed gains ranging from one per cent
in Ohio to SIS per cent in Georgia. The
most conspicuous gain was IN pennsylva-
MIA, 2,42l 1856 $50 per cent This fol-
lows a gain in 1916 of over 81 100000,
and in 1915 of more than 81 100000.
Michigan increased more than $4,000 in
1915, more than 100000 in 1916, and
1891, 1872 (3s per cent? in 1917. Many of
the states showed record yahes in 1917,
and II states had outputs valued in ex-
cess of Sl,000,OO0, one more Alabama
than in 1916. The decreased OUTPUT shown
by II states ranged from less than one
per cent in Tennessee and one pc cent in
Missouri to 22 per cent in Kentucky and
80 per cent in Vermont. States whose
product was valued in excess Of &0OO000
were manned in order of rank 4 pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana, New Yofk Michi-
gan, and Illinois, In 1916 Illinois followed
Indiana. Pennsylvania, New Yak Mich
igan ad Ohio showed gains respectively
OF 80 per cent, I6 per cent, 80 Dr. cent,
and one per cent; Illinois decreassd two
per cent and Indiana four per cent Penn
sylvauia's value in 1917 was nearly %
per cent OF the total, as against o per
cent in 1916, Is per cent in 1919 and rs
per cent in 1914. Over four ffths Of the
value of Pennsylvania's output IVA, for
furnace fiux and the greater part Of the
remaining value was for crushed stone.
The limestone sold for use as building
stone, which in 1917 represented On per
cent of the total quantity and eigh Der
cent of the total value, amountd to
SGT ,4Sl cubic feet, valued at S4Ili368
An average value of 50 cents 4 abic
foot. This amount was a decrease of
1892, 744 cubic feet Us per cent? iuaan-
tity, S472,s30 10 per cent? in value, and
nine cents in average per cubic lot
from 1916. The value was divided abut
equally between rough and rough saved
stone and dressed stone. The prineral
districts in which building limestone is
produced are the Bloomington Bedfmd
district, in Lawrence and Monroe com.
ties, Ind; the Carthage district, in JAS
per county, Mo-; and the Bowling Green
district, in Warren county, KY The em.
dition of the industry in these distria
for 1917 has been shown in United STATE
geological survey press bulletins 35i
(Missouri), 365 Indiana !, and 372 tken.
lucky. A considerable quantity Of build
ing limestone is also quarried at Roei
wood, Franklin county, Ala. near MAN.
in Dade county, Fla. and at kasota, lie
Sueur county and Mankato, Blue Earth
county, MINI. The output of Alabama
and Florida is confined to one company in
each state, fact that makes it impossi.