THE MINING AND QUARKY INDUSTRY I906 13 



has increased about 25 per cent. According to an estimate made 

 by J. C. Minor jr, the quantity recovered was about 5,000,000 

 pounds, compared with 4,000,000 pounds in 1905. The gain has 

 been due rather to the perfection of the methods for saving the gas 

 than to drilhng of additional wells. 



CEMENT 



The conditions in the cement industry were, on the whole, very 

 favorable during the past year. There was an unusual demand 

 for cement within the State, due to the general activity of building 

 and construction and specially to the carrying out of important 

 engineering undertakings in connection with the canal system and 

 the railroad terminals of New York city. As a consequence the com- 

 panies were able to market their entire output for the year without 

 difficulty. The prices have also been higher than for some time past. 



In all there were 19 firms that reported a production in 1906, as 

 compared with 21 firms similarly reporting in the previous year. 

 The combined output of Portland and natural rock cement amounted 

 to 4,114,939 barrels valued at $3,950,699. In 1905 the output was 

 4,375,520 barrels valued at $3,673,553, so that there was a loss for 

 the year of 260,581 barrels in the quantity produced, but a gain of 

 $277,196 in the value. The decreased production was brought 

 about by the conditions incidental to the natural rock cement trade 

 which has lost a good deal of its former importance in this State as 

 elsewhere. 



The output of Portland cement amounted to 2,423,374 barrels 

 valued at $2,766,488 against 2,117,822 barrels valued at $2,046,864 

 in 1905. There were 10 companies in operation, a gain of one for 

 the year. The Cummings Cement Co., at Akron, Erie co., which 

 had closed down its plant for repairs and new machinery, was again 

 productive. The company makes both Portland and natural rock 

 cement. Important improvements have been made in the plant of 

 the Glens Falls Cement Co., including the installation of rotary kilns 

 in the place of upright kilns. 



The production of natural rock cement amounted to 1,691,565 

 barrels valued at $1,184,211. In 1905 the total was 2,257,698 bar- 

 rels valued at $1,590,689. As heretofore the Rosendale district has 

 contributed most of the output, its share having been 1,514,336 

 barrels with a value of $1,107,535. ^^ 19^5 this district produced 

 '^»977j698 barrels valued at $1,472,489. Onondaga county reported 

 a total of 63,043 barrels valued at $30,923, against 77,000 barrels 



