156 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



reason commonly given for this is that the grit present in the talc 

 increases the wear of machines when run at high speed as in news- 

 paper mills. In the American paper trade, St Lawrence county talc 

 has become a staple article, while its use in foreign countries has 

 attained to large proportions. Large quantities are exported to Ger- 

 many, where it competes with the high grade German clays. It is 

 also shipped to Austria, Italy, France, Great Britain and other 

 countries. Among the minor uses for talc are the manufacture of 

 waterproof paints, wall plaster, steam pipe coverings, toilet powders 

 and as an adulterant of soap. 



The production of talc in 1905 amounted to 67,000 short tons. 

 The average selling price at Gouverneur on the basis of carload lots 

 was $7 a ton, at which figures the total value was $469,000. In 

 1904 the production was 65,000 short tons valued at $445,000. 

 There has been little change in the industry during recent years. 

 The following table shows the production for the period 1895-1905, 

 the figures previous to 1904 being taken from the volumes of the 

 Mineral Resources. 



Production of talc in New York 



YEAR 



Short tons 



Value 



Value 

 per ton 



1896 



46 089 



$399 443 



$8 67 



1897 



57 °°9 



396 936 



6 96 



1898 



54 356 



411 430 



7 57 



1899 



54 655 



438 150 



8 02 





63 500 



499 5°° 



7 87 



1901 



62 200 



483 600 



6 99 





7 1 100 



6i5 35o 



8 65 



I903 



60 230 



421 600 



7 



I9°4 



65 000 



455 000 



y; ■■•>'.. 



I905 



67 000 



469 000 



7 • • 



There are four companies operating in St Lawrence county. The 

 International Pulp Co. owns several mines near Talcville at the 

 eastern end of the range. Four of the properties are worked. Its 

 four mills are situated at Talcville and Hailesboro, where there is 

 large water power. The mine of the United States Talc Co. is 

 situated west of Talcville, while the mill is located at Dodgeville. 

 The Ontario Talc Co. has three mines and one mill located near 

 Fullerville in the central part of the district. On the western end 

 are the two mines of the Union Talc Co., which until recently has 



