GENERAL REMARKS.

In 1902, for the third time, the total value of the commercial mineral production of the United States exceeded the enormous sum of $1,000,000,000. The exact figures for 1902 were $1,260,639,415 as compared with $1,086,584,851 in 1901, with $1,063,678,053 in 1900, and with $972,208.008 in 1899, a gain of 1902 over 1901 of $174,064,414, or 16.02 per cent; a gain of 1902 over 1900 of $196,961,362, or 18.52 per cent; and a gain of 1902 over 1899 of $288,431,407, or 29.67 per cent. Although this gain is not so great either actually or proportionally as was the gain in 1899, when the gain over 1898 was $273,601,810, or 39.17 per cent, it is sufficient to be worthy of note.

The notable gains and losses of the last two decades are as follows:

The largest actual gain was that of 1899 over 1898, $273,601,810, or 39.17 per cent; next, that of 1902 over 1901, $174,053,760, or 16.02 per cent; then the gain of 1895 over 1894, which was $94,215,822, or 17.88 per cent; then that of 1900 over 1899, $91,468,340, or 9.41 per cent; and the gain of 1887 over 1886, $74,927,880, or 16.81 per cent. In other years than those mentioned between 1880 and 1898 the gains were not noteworthy, and in some of the years, notably in 1884, the production decreased $40,451,968, or nearly 9 per cent. During the industrial depression of 1892-1895 the production would have been expected to decline, as it did, going from $648,895,031 in 1892 to $574,464,724 in 1893, and to $527,079,225 in 1894, and then rising to $621,295,047 in 1895, and not reaching the output of 1892 until 1898.

As heretofore, iron and coal are the most important of our mineral products. The value of the iron in 1902 was $372,775,000; the value of coal

$367,032,069. Nearly all the important metals increased in both output and value; and among the less important metals, platinum, as compared with 1901, lost in both quantity and value even more than it gained in 1901 as compared with 1900, the production in 1902 being 94 ounces, valued at $1,814, as compared with 1,408 ounces, valued at $27,526, in 1901, with 400 ounces in 1900, and with 300 ounces in 1899. The fuels increased from $442,410,904 in 1901 to $469,078,647 in 1902, a gain of $26,667,743, or 6 per cent. Every variety of fuel increased in value except anthracite coal, which showed a decrease in quantity of 23,301,850 long tons and in value of $36,330,434. The average price of anthracite coal per long ton at the mine was $2.35, as against $2.05 in 1901-the highest figure then obtained since 1888-as compared with $1.85 in 1900, and with $1.80 in 1899; and the average price per ton for bituminous coal at the mine was $1.125, as compared with $1.047 in 1901. The increase in value of the bituminous coal output over 1901 was $54,436,434.

The gain of $174,064,414 in the total value of our mineral production is due to the increase in both metallic and nonmetallic products, the metallic products showing an increase from $518.266,259 in 1901 to $642,258,58 in 1902, a gain of $123,992,325, and the nonmetallic products showing an increase from $567,318,592 in 1901 to $617,380,831 in 1902, a gain of $50,072,089. To these products should be added estimated unspecified products, including building, molding and other sands reported to this office, the rare mineral molybdenum, and other mineral products, valued at $1,000,000, making the total mineral production for 1902 $1,260,639,415.

The manufacture of arsenious oxide, noted for the first time in the United

States in the report for 1901, was continued in increased proportions in 1902.

METALS.

Iron and Steel.-Twenty-two States made pig-iron in 1902, as against 21 in 1899 and 1900, and 20 in 1901. The total production of pig-iron in 1902 was 17,821,307 long tons, against 15,878,354 tons in 1901, 13,789,242 tons in 1900, 13,620,703 tons in 1899, 11,773,934 tons in 1898, and 9,652,680 tons in 1897. The production of 1902 shows an increase of 1,942,953 long tons, or 12.2 per cent, in quantity over the production of 1901, and in increase in value from $242,174,000 to $372,775,000, amounting to $130,601,000, or about 54 per cent. The average price per long ton of pig-iron increased from $15.25 in 1901 to $20.90 in 1902. The average prices per long ton in recent years have been as follows: 1900, $18.85; 1899, $18; 1897, $9.85; 1896, $10.47; 1895, $11.14; 1894, $9.76.

Iron Ores.-The production of iron ores in 1902 amounted to 35,554,135 long tons, as compared with 28,887,479 long tons, in 1901, a gain of 6,666,656 long tons, or 23 per cent. The value at the mines of the ore mined in 1902 was $65,412,950. As in the four previous years, the production of iron ores in 1902 in the United States has never been equaled by any other country. There were mined also in 1902, 13,275 long tons of manganiferous iron ore, valued at $52,371, which were used in the production of spiegeleisen.

Gold. The production of gold in 1902, as reported by the Bureau of the Mint, was 3,870,000 fine ounces, valued at $80,000,000.

Silver. The production of silver in 1902, as reported by the Bureau of the Mint, was 55,500,000 fine ounces; coining value, $71,757,575; commercial value, $29,415,000.

Manganese Ores.-The production of manganese ores increased from 11,995 long tons, valued at $116,722, in 1901, to 16,477 long tons, valued at $177,911, in 1902, an increase in quantity of 4,472 tons and in value of $61,189. The average price per ton was $10.74 in 1902, as compared with $9.73 in 1901 and with $8.52 in 1900.

Copper. The copper mining industry suffered during 1902 from the reaction which followed the unsuccessful attempt in 1901 to maintain the metal at an artificial level. The production,

however, increased from 602,072,519 pounds in 1901 to 659,508,614 pounds in 1902, an increase of 57,436,125 pounds, or about 9 per cent, in quantity, but decreased in value from $87,300,575 in 1901 to $76,568,954 in 1902, a decrease of $10,731,561, or about 12 per cent. Unless unforeseen events cause widespread or long stoppage at the mines, the production of copper in the United States will be considerably larger in 1903 than it has ever been.

Lead. The production of lead has been almost exactly the same for the last three years, viz., 270,000 short tons in 1902, 270,700 short tons in 1901 and 270,824 short tons in 1900. The value of the production in 1902 was $22,140,000, as compared with $23,280,200 in 1901, and with $23,564,688 in 1900.

Zinc.-The production of zinc in 1902 showed a continued increase in quantity as compared with 1901 and 1900, the production being 156,927 short tons in 1902, as compared with 140,822 short tons in 1901 and with 123,oo short tons in 1900. The value of the zinc production in 1902 was $14,625,596, as compared with $11,265,760 in 1901 and with $10,654,196 in 1900.

Aluminum. The production of aluminum during 1902 was 7,300,000 pounds, valued at $2,284,590, as compared with 7,150,000 pounds, valued at $2,238,000 in 1901, and with 7,150,000 pounds, valued at $1,920,000 in 1900.

Platinum. The production of platinum from domestic ores in the United States during 1902 was 94 ounces, valued at $1,814, as compared with 1,408 ounces, valued at $27,526 in 1901.

The

Quicksilver. The production of quicksilver during 1902 amounted to 34,291 flasks of 761⁄2 pounds net, as compared with 29,727 flasks in 1901 and with 28,317 flasks in 1900. value of the quicksilver produced in 1902 was $1,467,848, as compared with $1,382,365 in 1901 and with $1,302,586 in 1900. California reported 28,972 flasks in 1902, as compared with 26,720 flasks in 1901 and Texas reported 5,319 flasks in 1902, as against 2.932 flasks in 1901. In addition, the census reports 10,427 tons of crude or cinnabar, valued at $67,242, mined in California, and 1,300 tons of cinnabar, valued at $1,500, mined in Texas in 1902, but not roasted or treated, a total of 11,727 short tons of cinnabar, valued at

$82,242. The total production of both quicksilver and cinnabar in 1902 was therefore valued at $1,550,090.

Lithium. The production of lithium minerals in 1902 was 1,245 short tons, valued at $25,750 at the railroad, a decrease of 505 tons in amount and of $17.450 in value as compared with the production of 1901, which was 1,750 tons, valued at $43,200. As far as can be ascertained the greater part of the lithium minerals mined during 1902 was not shipped. Although the price of these minerals was lower in 1902 than in 1901 for the same grade of mineral, there was apparently no increase in the home demand. There

is, however, an increase in the demand for these minerals from foreign chemical manufacturers.

Nickel. The production of metallic nickel in 1902 was 5,748 pounds, valued at $2,701, as compared with 6,700 pounds, valued at $3,551 in 1901.

Antimony. No antimony was obtained from domestic ores during 1902. The antimony obtained from the smelting of foreign imported ores amounted to 657 short tons, valued at $129,126, and the antimony obtained from hard lead produced from foreign and domestic lead ores was 2,904 short tons, valued at $505,240, a total production for 1902 of 3,561 short tons, valued at $634,506, as compared with 2,639 short tons, valued at $539,902, in 1901. The estimated total amount of antimony available for consumption in 1902 was 6,255 short tons, including 2,694 short tons of imported antimony regulus, as compared with 4,475 short tons, including 1,837 short tons of imported antimony regulus in 1901, and with 6,053 short tons, including 1,827 short tons of imported antimony regulus in 1900.

Bismuth. No bismuth ores were produced in the United States during 1902. The marketed output in .1901 was 318.6 short tons. The ore contained gold and silver, for which the producers were paid. As nearly as can be ascertained, the value of the output in 1901 was $80 per ton, not including charges for transportation or treatment.

Molybdenum. The production of molybdenum in 1902 was approximately the same as that of 1901, but none of the product was shipped in 1902. The value of these molybdenum ores is very erratic, the highest price hitherto quoted being $1,500 per ton, and the lowest $100.

Tungsten. The production of tungsten during 1902 was 184 short tons of crude ore, of which no more than a few tons were sold. This does not represent the amount of tungsten ore sold in 1902, for 76 tons of concentrated ore, mined in 1901, were sold in 1902. In 1901 the production amounted to 179 tons of concentrated ore, valued at $27,720. The larger part of the production of 1902 was from Colorado.

Uranium and Vanadium. There was a marked increase in the production of uranium and vanadium minerals in 1902, which, as reported to the Survey, amounted to 3,810 short tons, valued at $48,125, or $12.62 per ton. This, of course, represents the crude ore. In 1901 the production was 375 tons of crude ore.

FUELS.

Coal. For the first time in the history of the United States the production of coal reached a total of over 300,000,000 short tons, showing an actual output of 301,590,439 tons of 2,000 pounds, valued at $367,032,069. Of this total the output of anthracite coal amounted to 36,940,710 long tons (equivalent to 41,373,595 short tons), which, as compared with the production of 60,242,560 long tons in 1901, was a decrease of 23,301,850 long tons, or about 39 per cent. This decrease, as is well known, was due entirely to the suspension of operations by the strike in the anthracite region from May 10 to October 23, a little over five months. But for the strike the output for the year would probably have been over 65,000,000 long tons. The value at the mines of the anthracite coal in 1902 was $76,173,586, as against $112,504,020 in 1901, a loss of about 32.3 per cent. The average value of the marketed coal sold during the year at the mines was $2.35 per long ton, the value in 1901 having been $2.05.

as

The output of bituminous coal (which includes semi-anthracite and all semi-bituminous and lignite coals) amounted in 1902 to 260,216,844 short tons, valued at $290,858,483, against 225,828,149 short tons, valued at $236,422,049 in 1901. The increase in the production of bituminous coal was, therefore, 34,388,695 tons in quantity and $54,436,434 in value.

Out of 30 States and Territories producing coal in 1902, seven-California, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington-had smaller outputs than in 1901.

The production of bituminous coal in Pennsylvania in 1902 exceeded that of 1901 by 15,755,874 short tons, but was not sufficient to overcome the great loss in anthracite production. The States in which the more important increases occurred with the corresponding gains are as follows: Illinois, 5,547,751 short tons; Colorado, 2,314,412 short tons; Ohio, 2,444,577 short tons; Indiana, 2,268,371 short tons; Alabama, 1,490,865 short tons; Kentucky, 1,193,176 short tons.

Coke. The coke production of the United States in 1902 exceeded that of any year in our history. The production, which includes the output from 1,663 retort or by-product ovens, amounted to 25,401,730 short tons, as compared with 21,795,883 short tons in 1901, and with 20,533,348 short tons in 1900. The increase in 1902 over 1901 amounted to 3,605,847 short tons, or 16.5 per cent. Large as this increase was, it was considerably less than it would have been had the transportation facilities been commensurate with the demand for coke and with the productive capacity of the ovens. The increase in the value of coke was even more noteworthy. The average price per ton at the ovens was the highest recorded in a period of twenty-three years, and the total value reached the high figure of $63,339,167, an increase over 1901 of $18,893,244, or 42.5 per cent. The value of the coal used in the manufacture of coke in 1902 exceeded that of 1901 by $7,932,563, from which it appears that the value of the coke product increased $10,970,681 over and above the increased value of the coal used in its production. In 1901 the highest price obtained for Connellsville furnace coke was $4.25. In September and October of 1902, while the contract coke was nominally quoted at $3 per ton, consumers were paying from $10 to $12 per ton for prompt delivery, and $15 was reported as paid for this fuel at one time. With the termination of the anthracite strike in the latter part of October prices for coke quickly declined, but in December of 1902 furnace coke for prompt delivery was still commanding $5 and $6 per ton, and contracts for delivery in the first six months of 1903 were made at from $3.75 to $4 per ton.

Gas, Coke, Tar and Ammonia.-The aggregate value of all the products obtained from the distillation of coal in gas works or retort ovens in 1902 was $43,869,440. About two-thirds of this amount, or $29,342,881, was repre

was

sented by the value of the gas produced. The value of the coke produced was $11,267,608, and the tar worth, at the works, $1,873,966. The total quantity of ammoniacal liquor sold was 49,490,609 gallons, containing 14,683,374 pounds NH3, and was worth at the works $1,065,300. In addition to this there was an actual production of 11,276,502 pounds of sulphate, which sold for $319,685.

Petroleum.-The total production of crude petroleum in the United States in 1902 was 88,766,916 barrels, as against 69,389,194 barrels in 1901, an increase of 19,377,722 barrels, or 27.92 per cent, over the production of 1901 and of 39.52 per cent over that of 1900. The greatest portion of the increase in 1902 came from Texas and California, the gain over 1901 being 13,690,000 barrels, or 311.6 per cent, for Texas, and 5,197,938 barrels, or 59.16 per cent, for California. The increase in Indiana in 1902 over 1901 was 1,723,810 barrels, or about 30 per cent. Louisiana produced for the first time in 1902, the production being 548,617 barrels. The increase over 1901 in the production of Kansas was 152,598 barrels, or about 85 per cent. Kentucky and Tennessee increased their production in 1902 by 48,072 barrels, or nearly 35.02 per cent. Indian Territory increased 37,000 barrels and Wyoming 853 barrels as compared with 1901. The largest decrease in production in 1902 as compared with 1901 was in West Virginia, where it amounted to 663,781 barrels, or about 4.5 per cent, and Ohio in 62 fields showed a decrease of 633,852 barrels, or nearly 3 per cent. The decrease in Pennsylvania was 561,888 barrels, or about 7 per cent; in Colorado, 63,619 barrels, or about 13.81 per cent. The percentages of production for fields show a remarkable change from 1900 to 1902. In 1900 the percentages were: Appalachian field, 57.05; Lima-Indiana field, 34.20; all other fields, 8.75. In 1902 the respective percentages were: Appalachian field, 36.07; LimaIndiana field, 26.31; all other fields, about 37.62. The value of crude petroleum produced during 1902 was $71,178,910, or 80.19 cents per barrel, as compared with $66,417,335, or 95.7 per barrel, in 1901-a decrease of 15.51 cents per barrel, or 16 per cent, in 1902.

Natural Gas.-The value of the natural gas produced in 1902 increased to $30,867,668, as compared with $27,067,500 in 1901, with $23,698,674 in

1900, and with $20,074,873 in 1899-a gain of 13 per cent in 1902 over 1901.

STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.

Stone. The value of all kinds of building stone produced in the United States during 1902 amounted to $64,559,099, as compared with $55,615,926 in 1901, with $44,321,345 in 1900, and with $44,090,670 in 1899.

Clay Products.-The activity in all branches of the clay-working industries noted in 1899, 1900 and 1901, continued during 1902. The value of all clay products as reported to the office of the Geological Survey in 1902 was $122,169,531, as compared with $110,211,587 in 1901, and with $96,212,345 in 1900. The brick and tile products in 1902 were valued at $98,042,078, as compared with $87,747,727 in 1901 and with $76,413,775 in 1900. The pottery products were valued in 1902 at $24.127.453, as compared with $22,463,860 in 1901 and with $19,798,570 in 1900.

The clay mined and sold by those not manufacturing the product themselves in 1902 was valued at $2,061,072, as compared with $2,576,932 in 1901 and with $1,840,377 in 1900.

Cement. The total production of hydraulic cement in the United States in 1902 was 25,753,504 barrels, valued at $25,366,380, as compared with 20,068,737 barrels, valued at $15,786,789, in 1901, and with 17,231,150 barrels, valued at $13,283,581, in 1900. The Portland cement production in 1902 was 17,230,644 barrels, valued at $20,864,078, as compared with 12,711,225 barrels, valued at $12,532,360, in 1901, and with 8,482,020 barrels, valued at $9,280,525, in 1900, an increase, as compared with 1900, in quantity of about 100 per cent, and in value of over 50 per cent. The number of plants using Portland cement increased from 50 in 1900 to 56 in 1901, and to 65 in 1902. The production of natural rock cement in 1902 was 8,041,305 barrels, valued at $4,076,630, as compared with 7.084.823 barrels, valued at $3,056,278, in 1901, and with 8,383,519 barrels, valued at $3,728,848, in 1900. The production of slag cement amounted to 478.555 barrels, valued at $425,672, in 1902, as compared with 272,689 barrels, valued at $198,151, in 1901, and with 365,611 barrels, valued at $274,208, in 1900.

ABRASIVE MATERIALS. Carborundum.-There was a slight decrease in the quantity of carborun

dum-3,741,500 pounds produced in 1902, as compared with 3,838,175 pounds in 1901-due in part to lack of a sufficient supply of raw materials, a result of the anthracite coal strike. The value of the carborundum varies from 8 to 10 cents per pound.

Corundum and Emery.-The combined production of corundum and emery in 1902 amounted to 4,251 short tons, valued at $104,605, as compared with 4,305 short tons, valued at $146,040, in 1901, a decrease of 54 tons in quantity and of $41,435 in value.

Crushed Steel. The production of crushed steel in 1902 was 735,000 pounds, as compared with 690,000 pounds in 1901, and the product is quoted at 52 cents per pound free on board at Pittsburg.

Crystalline Quartz.-In 1902 the production of crystalline quartz included under abrasives amounted to 15,104 short tons, valued at $84,335, as compared with 14,050 short tons, valued at $41,500, in 1901. This large variation in value is due to the fact that in 1902 the value reported was in some cases that of the quartz after it had been crushed or ground. The actual value of the crude quartz produced in 1902 was $43,085.

Garnet. The production of abrasive garnet in the United States during 1902 amounted to 3,926 short tons, valued at $132,820, as compared with 4,444 short tons, valued at $158,100, in 1901, and with 3,185 short tons, valued at $123,475, in 1900. As reported to the Survey the prices varied from $20 to $60 a ton, the highest price being obtained for the North Carolina garnet. The average value per ton of the production in 1902 was $35.10, as compared with $35.57 per ton in 1901 and with $38.77 in 1900.

Grindstones.-The total value of all kinds of grindstones produced during 1902 was $667.431, as compared with $580,703, in 1901, an increase of $86,728. The production of 1900, valued at $710,026, still remains the largest on record for any year. It should be remembered, however, that the price per ton has decreased from $15 to from $8 to $10, and that therefore the tonnage of grindstones used has correspondingly increased within the last few years. The imports for 1902 amounted in value to $76,906, as compared with $88.871 in 1901 and with $92,581 in 1900.

Infusorial Earth and Tripoli.—In 1902 the production of infusorial earth and tripoli amounted to 5,665 short