The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-15
MINING IN KANSAS.

Kansas is regarded generally as a
grain and stock growing state. 1t
may be surprising, therefore. to many
to learn that while ranking thirteenth
among the states in size and twenty
/ fourth in population, Kansas ranked
eleventh in value of mineral products
in 1919. The state ranked twelfth in
the total number of persons engaged
in the mining industries and four
teenth in the average number of wage
earners employed, This is the story
told by the 1920 census as shown by a
bulletin just issued.
The total amount received by oper-
ators of all mines, quarries and wells
in Kansas in 1919 was $9O,Sss,2O4. an
increase of 1925 per cent compared
with the corresponding amount re-
ported at the census ofd909.
The increase in value of products,
also increases in capital, wages. cost
of supplies and materials and fuel and
power are largely due to genera price
increases during the census interval,
but, nevertheless. show growth in the
mining industries. Progress is also
indicated by the increase in the mum
Der of producing enterprises and wells
operated and average number of wage
earners. The decrease in the number
of individual mines and quarries oper-
ated and the increase in the number
of wells show that the general growth
of mineral industries In Kansas was
due to expansion of the petroleum and
natural-gas industry. which offse. de-
creases in other industries.
The mining industries reported in
Kansas in 1919, classified according to
principal products and listed in order
Of value of products, were petroleum
and natural gas. bituminous coal, lead
and zinc, limestone. gypsum. abrasive
materials (pumice), and clay. One
of the most important mining indus
tries in Kansas was the production Of
salt. The statistics for this industry
are included in the census of manu-
features.
The leading mineral industry in
Kansas was the production of petro-
leum and natural gas. Out of a total
of S14 enterprises. 613 were reported
in the petroleum and natural-gas in
dustry. These enterprises employed
1871 per cent of the total number of
wage earners and contributed prod
ucts valued at SIS, 515,15s, or 75.S per
cent of the total.
Kansas ranked fifth in petroleum
ano natural-gas output in 1872 Pro-
duction was obtained from some fifty
pools or local fields distributed over
about 5000 square miles of territory
in tweuty-seven southeastern counties.
The industry second in Importance
10 Kansas in 1919, on the bass of
value OF products but first as meas
ured by average number of wage earn
ers. was the mining OF bItuminous
coal. This industry. comprising about
one-sixth OF all mining enterprises IN
the state, employed SOL per can't. %
the total number of wage earners and
reported products valued at $!5.74S,-
5S5, or ia per cent of the to.al value
of products for the state.
The mining of lead and zinc was
third In Importance in the state. IT
was confined to Cherokee county. the
output of which placed Kansas fifth
among the states as producer of lead
and zinc ores. The thirty enterprises
in this industry employed IL per cent
Of the total number of wage carriers
and reported products valued at
s4.S72,96s, or 5,4 per cent of the total
value for the state.