THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I9I3 ^5 



Altogether the changes that have taken place have meant a loss in- 

 dustrially to the State, since the preparation of crushed stone re- 

 quires a minimum of labor of the unskilled kind. 



The statistics of production indicate that the year 19 13 was a 

 fairly active one for the quarry business. The total value of the 

 materials of all kinds, as reported by the individual enterprises, was 

 $6,763,054, as compared with $5,718,994 in the preceding year. 

 There was thus a gain of $1,044,060 or about 18 per cent for the 

 year. The output, however, fell below that returned for some of 

 the earlier years and the gain does not seem to indicate any real 

 expansion of quarry operations outside the crushing business. It is 

 to be noted that the totals do not include any products from slate, 

 millstone and cement quarries, for which separate statistics are 

 published elsewhere, in this report. 



The granite quarries reported a considerably larger output than 

 in 1912, but mainly in crushed stone. Of building and monumental 

 granite, the product was a little less than in the preceding year. 



The limestone quarries contributed about one-half of the total re- 

 ported for the entire industry, maintaining the same relative posi- 

 tion which they have occupied in the past. Limestone is more ex- 

 tensively used for crushed stone than any other kind, and it also 

 finds a large outlet in lime making, furnace flux and for chemical 

 manufacturing. 



There was little change in the marble industry, the production 

 having been about the same as in 1912. Building stone is the larg- 

 est item in the local market, with monumental stone ranking next. 



The sandstone output showed a small increase, mainly in the item 

 of curbstone. In previous years the production had shown a 

 marked decline owing to the decreased demand for flagstone, which 

 is mainly quarried in the southeastern bluestone region. At one 

 time this was a very large and flourishing branch of the industry, 

 in fact the most important of all. 



The trap quarries in the Palisades section made about their usual 

 output, although the future of the industry is somewhat unsettled. 

 The river quarries will eventually have to shut down, as they come 

 within the bounds of the new Palisades park. It is possible that 

 new quarries may be opened inland to take their place. 



The production of the different kinds of stone during the past 

 three years is given in the tables herewith. 



