the average valuation at the collieries was an increase of $800,000 gold, and having fallen from $1.20 to $1.05. The $2,600,000 silver, as compared with 1883. total output of all coals showed a net The gold production was equivalent to gain in tonnage of 4,038,326 long tons, 1,489,049 troy ounces, and the silver to and a decline in value of $15,726,277. 37,744,605 troy ounces. Coke. There were 4,873,805 short tons of coke made in 1884, worth $7,242,878 at the ovens. This production consumed 7,951,974 short tons of coal. The amount of coke made was 590,916 tons less than in 1883, and the value was $878,729 less. Copper. The production in 1884, including 2,858,754 pounds made from imported pyrites, was 145,221,934 pounds, worth $17,789,687, at an average price of 12 cents per pound in New York City. The amount was 28,070,139 pounds greater than the production of 1883; but the value was $275,120 less than that for 1883, owing to the decline in price. In 1884, 4,224,000 pounds of bluestone (sulphate of copper, "blue vitriol") were made; worth, at 4.3 cents per Petroleum. The production of crude petroleum in 1884 was 24,089,758 barrels of 42 gallons each, of which the Pennsylvania and New York oil fields produced 23,622,758 barrels. The total value at an average spot price of 85 pound, $181,632. cents, was $20,476,294. As compared Lead.-Production, with 1883 the production was 689,529 tons. Total value, at an average price of barrels greater; but the total value was $75.32 per ton on the Atlantic seaboard, $5,263,958 less, the average spot price $10,537,042. The production was 4,060 having fallen from $1.10, or 25 cents per barrel. Natural Gas.-The estimated value of the natural gas used in the United States in 1884 was $1,460,000, as against $475,000 in 1883. The value is computed from that of the coal superseded by natural gas. 139,897 short tons less than that of 1883, while the decrease in value was $1,785,677. The production of white lead (carbonate) is estimated at about 65,000 short tons, worth, at 43 cents per pound, $6,337,500, almost all of which was made from pig lead. The production of litharge and red lead has not been ascertained. Iron.-The principal statistics for 1884 Zinc.-Production of metallic zinc, are as follows: Iron ore mined, 8,200,000 38,544 short tons, worth, at an average long tons; value at mine, $22,550,000.|price of 4.44 cents per pound in New Domestic iron ore consumed, 7,718,129 York City, $3,422,707. The output was long tons; value at mine, $21,224,854. | 1,672 tons greater than 1883, and the Imported iron ore consumed, 487,820 value increased $111,601. Besides the long tons; total iron ore consumed, 8,- spelter and sheet zinc, about 13,000 125,949 long tons. Pig iron made, 4,- short tons to zinc white (oxide) were 097,868 long tons, a decrease of 497,642 made directly from the ore, the total tons as compared with 1883; value at value of which, at 3 cents per pound, furnace, $73,761,624, or $18,148,576 less was $910,000. than in 1883. Total spot value of all Quicksilver.-Production, 31,913 flasks iron and steel in the first stage of manu- (of 75 pounds net=2,441,344 pounds), facture, excluding all duplications, $107,- or 14,812 flasks less than in 1883. Total 000,000, a decline of $35,000,000 from value, at an average price of $29.34 per 1883. Fuel consumed in all iron and flask at San Francisco, $936,327, a desteel works, including blast furnaces, 1,-cline of $317,305, as compared with the 973,305 long tons of anthracite, 4,226,- total value of the product of the pre986 long tons of bituminous coal, 3,833,-vious year. During the year, 600,000 170 long tons of coke, and 62,110,660 pounds of quicksilver vermilion were bushels of charcoal, besides a notable made, worth $288,000. quantity of natural gas. Limestone Nickel.-Production of nickel conused as flux, 3,401,930 long tons; value at quarry, $1,700,965. Gold and silver.-The Mint authorities estimate the production in 1884 at $30,800,000 gold, and $48,800,000 silver (coining rate); total, $79,600,000. This tained in copper-nickel alloy, 64,550 pounds, worth, at 75 cents per lb. $48,412; an increase of 5,750 pounds, but a decline of $4,508 in total value, owing to the falling off in price. Cobalt. The amount of cobalt oxide made in 1884 was about 2,000 pounds, as 400 pounds) of artificial Portland cement against 1,096 pounds made in 1883. Its were made, or 10,000 barrels more than value, at $2.55 per pound, was $5,100. in 1883; the total value, at $2.10 per The value of cobalt ore and matte cannot barrel, being $210,000. The production be ascertained, as it is chiefly dependent of cement from natural cement rock was on the nickel contents. Manganese. The output of manganese ore in 1884 was about 10,000 long tons, or 2,000 tons more than in 1883. The total value, at $12 per ton at the mines, was $120,000, or about the same as in 1883, the average price having declined $3 per ton. Chromium.-The production of chrome iron ore, all from California, was about 2,000 long tons, or about two-thirds as much as in 1883. At an average value of $17.50 per ton at San Francisco, the total value was $35,000. Tin.-A little tin ore was taken out in the course of development work in Dakota, Wyoming, Virginia, and Alabama, but the only metallic tin made was a few hundred pounds from ore of the Black Hills (Dakota) mines made in sample tests at New York City pending the building of reduction works at the mines. Platinum.-The amount mined in 1884 was about 150 troy ounces, worth, crude, $3 per ounce. Aluminum.—The amount made in the United States in 1884 was 1,800 troy ounces, an increase of 800 ounces over the production of 1883. At 75 cents per ounce the total value was $1,350. Building stone.—It is estimated that the value of the building stone quarried in 1884 was $19,000,000, as against $20,000,000 in 1883; the decline being due partly to dullness of trade and partly to the increased use of other structural materials. Brick and Tile.-The output was about the same as in 1883, but as manufacturers cut down expenses still further, meeting a lower market, the total value is estimated at $30,000,000 as against $34,000,000 in 1883. Lime.-There were 37,000,000 barrels (of 200 pounds) made in 1884, the average value per barrel at the kilns being not over 50 cents, or $18,500,000. The production was about 5,000,000 barrels greater than in 1883, but owing to the fall in price the total value was about $700,000 less. Cement.-About 100,000 barrels (of 3,900,000 barrels (of 300 pounds), or 200,000 barrels less than in 1883; worth, at 90 cents per barrel, $3,510,000. The total production of all kinds of cement was about 4,000,000 barrels, valued at $3,720,000. Precious stones.-The estimated value of American precious stones sold as specimens and souvenirs in 1884 was $54,325, and the value of the stones sold to be cut into gems was $28,650; total, $82,975. About $140,000 worth of gold quartz was saved as specimens or made into jewelry and ornaments. Buhrstones.-The value of the buhrstones yearly made in the United States is about $300,000. Grindstones.-Dealers estimate the value of the grindstones made in 1884 at $570,000. Phosphates.-The production of washed phosphate rock in South Carolina during the year ending May 31, 1884, was 431,779 long tons, worth $2,374,784, or 53,399 tons more than in the previous year, with an increase of $104,504 in value. The average spot price, $5.50 per ton, was 50 cents less than in the preceding year. The recent discoveries of phosphate rock in the adjoining States of North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida will probably lead to a still further increase in production. Of manufactured fertilizers, 967,000 short tons, worth $26,110,000, were made in the year ending April 30, 1884, and 1,023,500 short tons, worth $27,640,000, were made in the year ending April 30, 1885. Marls.-In New Jersey about 875,000 tons, worth $437,500 at the pits, were dug in 1884. In addition, small quantities were produced for local use in some of the Southern States. The production is declining, owing to competition with fertilizers made from phosphate rock, etc. Gypsum.-In the Atlantic States, from Maine to Virginia, 65,000 long tons of land plaster and 60,000 tons of stucco, total 125,000 tons, were made in 1884, of which nearly all was from Nova Scotia gypsum. The statistics for Michigan have not been reported, but the produc tion did not vary greatly from that in 1883, in which year it was 60,082 short tons of land plaster and 159,100 barrels (of 300 pounds) of stucco. In Ohio, 4,217 short tons of land plaster and 20,307 barrels of stucco were produced. There was also a small production in other parts of the country; but the total amount of domestic gypsum used is not known. Graphite.-Production nominal, the supply being drawn from the stock accumulated in 1883. Asphaltum.-The annual production is about 3,000 tons, having a spot value of $10,500. Alum.-About 38,000,000 pounds were made in the United States in 1884, or 3,000,000 pounds more than in 1883. At an average spot value of 13 cents per pound, the product was worth $712,500. Copperas. The amount made in 1884 was 15,500,000 pounds, worth, at 60 cents per hundredweight, $93,000. Sult. The production in 1884 was 6,514,937 barrels of 280 pounds (equivalent to 1,824,182,360 pounds, or 32,574,685 bushels, or 912,091 short tons, according to the unit used). The total Mineral Waters.-The sales of natural value, computed on average wholesale mineral waters in 1884 amounted to 68,prices at the point of production, was 720,936 gallons, valued at $1,665,490, an $4,197,734. The apparent output was apparent increase of 21,431,193 gallons 322,706 barrels greater than in 1883, and $526,007 upon the figures for 1883. while the value was $13,308 less; but While the sales are undoubtedly increasthe production figures do not include a ing, it is possible that the excess in the considerable stock on hand in the Onon-reported quantity and value of the waters daga district, not officially reported be- sold in 1884 as compared with 1883 may cause not inspected. be partly due to the greater fullness of Bromine.-The production is esti- the returns for 1884. Besides the waters mated at 281,100 pounds, all from the bottled and placed on the market there Ohio and West Virginia salt district; is a large local consumption, not included worth, at 24 cents per pound, $67,464. in the foregoing figures. Borax.-Production about 7,000,000 pounds, or 500,000 pounds more than in 1883. The total value, however, was less than that of the product of 1883, being about $490,000 at San Francisco rates, as against $585,000 in 1883. Sulphur.- No exact statistics. production was only about 500 tons, worth about $12,000. Pyrites. About 35,000 long tons were mined in the United States, worth about $175,000 at the mines. Some 33,500 tons of imported pyrites were also burned, making a total consumption of 68,500 tons. Totals. As was remarked in the former report, it is impossible to state the total mineral product in any form which shall not be open to just criticism. It is evident that the production statistics of such incongruous substances as iron ore, The metallic gold and silver, the spot value of coal mined and the market value of metallic copper after having been transported hundreds of miles, the spot value of a crude substance like unground, unrefined barytes, and the value of a finished product like brick (in which the cost of manufacture is the leading item), cannot well be taken as items in a general summary. The statistics have been compiled with a view to giving information on those points which are of most interest and utility, and are presented in the form usual in the several branches of trade statistics. The result is that the values stated for the different products are necessarily taken at different stages of production or transportation, etc. Theoretically perfect statistics of mineral products would include, first of all, the actual net spot value of each substance in its crudest form, as taken from the earth; and yet for practical purposes such statistics would have little Barytes.-Full statistics not received. The production is estimated to have been about 25,000 tons; worth, at $4 per ton, unground, at the point of production, $100,000. Mica The production of merchantable sheet mica, not including mica waste, was 147,410 pounds, valued at $368,525. Feldspar. The production was 10,900 long tons, or 3,200 tons less than in 1883. Its value at the quarries was $55,112. Asbestos.-The amount mined was about 1,000 short tons, worth about $30, 000. interest other than the fact that the items count on silver, and by considering lime, METALLIC PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1884. NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1884 (SPOT VALUES). a The commercial product, that is, the amount marketed, was only 66,875,772 tons, worth $70,219,561. The commercial product, that is, the amount marketed, was only 30,718,293 tons, worth $61,436,586. c Year ending May 31. RÉSUMÉ OF THE VALUES OF THE METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL SUBSTANCES PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1884. Metals. Mineral substances named in the foregoing table.. Fire-clay, kaolin, potter's clay, common brick clay, terra-cotta, build- Grand total... $186,097,599 220,007,021 406,104,620 7,000,000 $413,104,620 The production in 1884, 1883, and 1883, but was accented in 1884. The 1882 compared.-Tables showing the net decline as will be seen by reference quantities and values of the mineral to the tables, has been due rather to a products of the United States in 1883 and 1882 are appended for comparison. From these it appears that the total value of the metals aud minerals produced in 1884 was $39,100,008 less than in 1883, and that the decline in 1883 from 1882 was $3,012,061; that is, the falling off in value began on a small scale in depression in price than to a decrease in quantity; indeed, several important substances show a decided increase in production, notwithstanding the general dullness of trade. The overproduction, taking the whole field into consideration, has been less than was generally feared. |