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9. The Oolitic Limestone Industry of Indiana. 



By Oliver C. Lockhakt, A.M., Assistant Professor of Economics in Ohio 

 State University; late Assistant in Economics and Social Science, In- 

 diana University. 



Introduction. The oolitic limestone industry of Indiana is 

 not only one of the important industries of the State, but. owing; 

 to its localization in a comparatively small reg'ion, it presents a 

 degree of uniformity in its various features which affords un- 

 usual opportunities for a concrete study of industrial conditions. 

 These facts furnish the motive for this paper. 



The present study is by no means exhaustive in scope, but 

 attempts only to describe the more important features of the 

 industry. Throughout, emphasis has been laid upon the pro- 

 duction of oolitic stone as a building; material, which is the funda- 

 mental fact in the entire industry. The treatment of the va- 

 rious phases of the industry has at all times been narrowly lim- 

 ited by the insufficiency of data. 



The difficulties encountered in the present study have lain 

 primarily in the collection of material. No systematic study of 

 the industry as a whole has ever before been attempted, though 

 the reports of the Indiana Department of Geology have contained 

 some excellent sketches and studies of the industry from the 

 geological and commercial points of view. Hence the greater 

 part of the paper is based upon the results of personal investiga- 

 tion among men actually engaged in the industry. Not only is 

 it often difficult or even impossible to obtain information from 

 such sources, but such as is obtained is not ahvays free from 

 personal color. However, it is a pleasure to record that the em- 

 ployers and men were as a rule found to be courteous and affable : 

 and it is felt that the views of those most competent to speak 

 concerning the industry have been obtained. It is, therefore, 

 hoped that this paper will prove both of interest and of value 

 to the student of industrial conditions as well, perhaps, as to 

 the 'general reader. It is but just to add that the writer owes 

 much to the kindness of friends engaged in the industry, with- 

 out whose assistance the study could hardly have been conclucled. 



The printed materials used in the preparation of this paper 

 are almost without exception official documents. The greatest 

 aid was derived from the Annual Reports of the Indiana Depart- 

 ment of Geology and Natural Resources. For statistical inform- 

 ation the Biennial Reports of the Indiana Bureau of Statistics, 



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