THE MIXING AXD QUARRY INDUSTRY I908 33 



which is worked on the room and pillar system. The calcining 

 plant is equipped with a jaw crusher, rolls, cylindrical dryer, pul- 

 verizer and three ii-ton vertical kettles. The gypsum is manu- 

 factured into plaster of paris and wall plaster. A part of the crude 

 rock is shipped to glass factories in the Pittsburg district where it 

 is calcined and employed as cement in the grinding of plate glass. 



IRON ORE 



The iron mining industry received a decided setback last year 

 and for the first time in a number of years the output showed a 

 decrease. During the decade from 1898 to 1907 the State's pro- 

 duction gained steadily, reaching a total of 1,018,013 long tons in 

 the latter year as compared with 179,951 long tons in 1898. Under 

 favorable conditions of the iron trade there would have been a fur- 

 ther increase last year, which probably would have set a new mark 

 for the industry in New York. Several properties had been 

 brought to the producing stage when the depression began and 

 compelled a suspension of operations. With the contraction of the 

 market the operative mines reduced their output and a few closed 

 down entirely. Before the end of 1908 conditions showed some 

 improvement, though it can hardly be expected that prosperity will 

 be fully restored much before the close of the current year. 



There were 10 companies which reported a production of iron 

 ore in 1908 against 13 companies so reporting in the preceding 

 year. One new producer, the Cheever Iron Ore Co., was added to 

 the list, so that out of the number of active companies in 1907 

 four were closed down throughout the year. 



The accompanying table gives the production of iron ore dis- 

 tributed according to kinds for the period 1890-1908 inclusive. 

 The statistics covering the years previous to 1904 are taken from 

 the annual volumes of the Mineral Resources published by the 

 United States Geological Survey. The production of magnetite 

 as given in the table represents high grade ore and concentrates 

 suitable for furnace use and not the mine output which is consid- 

 erably larger as much of the ore is concentrated. 



