THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I9I4 1 5 



stocks which were sold at considerable concessions from the price 

 basis that had obtained during the early part of the year. At the 

 close it appeared that the industry would soon lose all the ground 

 it had been able to gain during the period of relative prosperity 

 which followed four or five years of almost unrelieved depression 

 for the local plants. 



The mills for the most part operated throughout the year at their 

 average capacity, so that the market conditions were not reflected 

 in the production returns, although a reduction may be looked for 

 during the current season unless the market shows great improve- 

 ment. There was a large surplus of cement carried over into the 

 new year. 



In the first part of 1914 the general average of portland cement 

 prices was the same as obtained during the preceding year, that is, 

 around 95 cents for standard brands. This quotation was for 

 deliveries at the mill, not including cost of package. The New 

 York City basis was $1.18 in bulk and $1.58 in package. The mills 

 within the State received somewhat better prices in the local 

 markets. Before the close of the year cement was selling in New 

 York City at 20 and 25 cents below these quotations with large 

 offerings. The average price received by the mills for the whole 

 year was about 90 cents a barrel as compared with 95 cents in 

 1913 and 78 cents in 1912. 



Conditions in the natural cement trade were practically un- 

 changed, the present industry contributing only a small part of the 

 total output, although a few years ago it was the principal branch. 



The reports, which have been received from all the cement 

 manufacturers within the State, show that the total output last year 

 amounted to 5,899,804 barrels. In the preceding year the combined 

 production of portland and natural cement was 5,340,757 barrels 

 and in 1912 it was 4783,535 barrels. The steady growth of the 

 portland cement industry in the last few years has raised the pro- 

 duction now to a higher rate than prevailed at the time of the 

 highest prosperity of the natural cement trade. 



The output of portland cement for 1914 was 5,667,728 barrels. 

 In the preceding year it amounted to 5,146,782 barrels, showing a 

 gain of about 10 per cent for this branch of the industry. The 

 value of the production based on the average selling prices for the 

 year was $5,088,677, or at the rate of approximately 90 cents a 

 barrel. There were eight mills in operation, the same number as 

 in 1913. 



