August 27, 1885 | 
NATURE 
405 
and the value increased $111,601. Besides the spelter and sheet 
zinc, about 13,000 short tons of zinc white (oxide) were made 
directly from the ore, the total value of which, at 3 cents per 
pound, was $910,000. 
Quicksilver.—Production, 31,913 flasks (of 764 pounds net = 
2,441,344 pounds), or 14,812 flasks less than in 1883. Total 
value, at an average price of $29°34 per flask at San Francisco, 
$936,327, a decline of $317,305 as compared with the total 
value of the product of the previous year. During the year 
600,000 pounds of quicksilver vermilion were made, worth 
$288,000. 
Nickel.—Production of nickel contained in copper-nickel 
alloy, 64,550 pounds, worth, at 75 cents per pound, $48,412 ; 
an increase of 5,750 pounds, but a decline of $4508 in total 
value, owing to the falling off in price. 
Cobalt.—The amount of cobalt oxide made in 1884 was akout 
2000 pounds, as against 1096 pounds made in 1883. Its value, 
as $2°55 per pound was $5100. The value of cobalt ore and 
matte cannot be ascertained, as it is chiefly dependent on the 
nickel contents. 
Manganese.—The output of manganese ore in 1884 was about 
10,000 long tons, or 2000 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 2000 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 develop- 
ment 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. 
Aluminiwn.—The amount made in the United States in 1884 
was 1800 troy ounces, an increase of 800 ounces over the pro- 
duction in 1883. At 75 cents per ounce the total value was 
$1350. 
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 400 Ibs.) of artificial 
Portland cement were made, or 10,000 barrels more than in 
1883; the total value, at $2‘10 per barrel, being $210,000. The 
production of cement from natural cement rock was 3,900,000 
barrels (of 300 Ibs.), or 200,000 barrels less than in 1883 ; worth, 
at 90 per 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.—Vhe 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 tne year ending May 31, 1884, was 
431,779 long tons, worth $2,374,784, or 53,399 tons more than 
in the previous year, wtth 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 fertilisers, 967,000 short tons, worth 26,110,000, 
short tons, worth $27,640,000, were made in the year ending 
April 30, 1885. 
Marls.—In New Jersey about $75,000 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 fertilisers 
made from phosphate rock, &c. 
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 production 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 lbs.) of stucco. In Ohio 4217 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. 
Salt.—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 value, computed on average wholesale prices at the 
point of production, was $4,197,734. The apparent output 
was 322,706 barrels greater than in 1883, while the value was 
$13,308 less ; but the production figures do not include a con- 
siderable stock on hand in the Onondaga district, not officially 
reported because not inspected. 
Bromine.—The production is estimated at 281, 100 pounds, all 
from the Ohio and West Virginia salt district ; worth, at 24 
cents per pound, $67,464. 
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. The production was only 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 consump- 
tion of 68,500 tons. 
Barytes.—F ull 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 3200 tons 
less than in 1883. Its value at the quarries was $55,112. 
Asbestos.—The amount mined was about r000 short tons, 
worth about $30,000. 
Graphite.—Production nominal, the supply being drawn from 
the stock accumulated in 1883. 
Asphaltum.—The annual production is about 3000 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. 
Mineral Waters.—The sales of natural mineral waters in 
1884 amounted to 68,720,936 gallons, valued at $1,665,490, an 
apparent increase of 21,431,193 gallons, and $526,007 upon the 
figures for 1883. While the sales are undoubtedly increasing, it 
is possible that the excess in the reported quantity and value of 
the waters sold in 1884 as compared with 1883 may bz partly 
due to the greater fullness of the returns for 1884. Besides the 
waters bottled and placed on the market there is a large local 
consumption, not included in the foregoing figures. 
Totals —As was remarked in the former report, it is im- 
possible to state the total mineral product in any form whic! 
shall not be open to just criticism. It is evident that the pro- 
duction statistics of such incongruous substances as iron ore, 
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 un- 
ground, 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 sia- 
tistics have been compiled with a view to giving information on 
were made in the year ending April 30, 1884, and 1,023,500 | those points which are of most interest and utility, and are 
