82 A.GRICULTUBAL Manual 



agriculture. The annual outturn is over half a million tons, 

 worth about $2,500,000. 



There are no coal beds in this state ; the northern limits of the 

 great Appalachian coal fields stop just short of the southern 

 boundary. Oil is found, however, in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and 

 Steuben counties. Natural gas occurs in the same region, as well 

 as in Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Schuyler, Livingston, 

 Onondaga, Oswego, and other counties. These mineral fuels have 

 an annual value of about $6,000,000. 



The clay-working industries and stone quarries are widely rep- 

 resented, with one or more enterprises in nearly every section or 

 district. There is an abundance of limestone suitable for agri- 

 cultural u ; e, for which the demand has shown an encouraging 

 growth. Granite and marble are quarried in the Adirondack and 

 Highland regions. The combination of limestone and clay, not 

 uncommon in the state, provides the necessary basis for Portland 

 cement manufacture. This business has gained an established 

 place in the last few years, with an average output of 5,000,000 

 barrels. 



The list of minerals as enumerated is far from complete. One 

 of the minor products is apatite, valuable for its phosphoric acid 

 content, which is obtained in connection with the mining of iron 

 ores in Essex County. Emery, diatomaceous earth, quartz, and 

 garnet are produced for abrasive uses. The garnet mines near 

 Xorth River, Warren County, are reputed far and wide for the 

 excellence of their crystal garnet. It is made into abrasive paper, 

 known in the trade as "ruby" paper. Graphite, which is one of 

 the characteristic Adirondack minerals of widespread occurrence, 

 is mined in Essex, Washington, and Saratoga counties. Marl and 

 peat are products of our swamp lands. 



Molding sand is a material that, to foundrymen, will no doubt 

 most frequently recall the name Albany in its connection, for 

 much of the high-grade sand used for fine castings is obtained in 

 the Hudson valley, north and south of the capital city. The war 

 brought, to light the importance that potash has in relation to 

 agriculture and many chemical industries by the shutting off of 

 foreign supplies. Some of the Portland cement plants are now 

 turning out this substance as a by-product of their operation. 



