INTRODUCTION.

This volume is the fifth of the series "Mineral Resources of the United States." It extends the information contained in the previous volumes to include the calendar year 1887. The statistical tables have been brought forward, but with this exception only such information as is supplementary to the previous volumes should be looked for. Repetition of descriptive matter has been avoided wherever possible, therefore all the volumes should be consulted for complete information on any subject.

Uniformity of arrangement in all the volumes has been observed as nearly as consistent with the object of showing the changes constantly occurring in the mineral industries. Where a supplementary report was not necessary some subjects have been dropped from the list, while others have been dwelt upon at greater length. The methods of collecting the statistics and the units of quantity adopted are defined in the previous volumes. The units are those in common trade use for the particular substances treated, and are further explained in connection with each chapter. In cases of marked variance in trade usage, the terms least liable to confusion have been adopted; for example, the ton of 2,240 pounds is, in this report, called the "long" ton, and that of 2,000 pounds the "short" ton, the terms "gross" ton and "net" ton, although in common usage, being sometimes misleading; for instance, where a gross ton of ore may be taken to mean a ton (of perhaps only 2,000 pounds) including moisture and where net ton might be understood as referring to the weight after deducting the tare of package, etc. Acknowledgments.-The names of contributors of special articles usually appear in connection with the subjects treated. In so far as possible the chief sources of information are noted in connection with each subject, although it is not possible to mention the many items which have been furnished by agents in the Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain divisions, or to give in detail the proper credit to the correspondents, now many thousands, who have given much valuable time and cheerful co-operation in preparing answers to the heavy demands upon their time and patience. The statistics of imports and exports are, as usual, taken from the reports of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department. Publication.-In advance of the publication of the completed volume the principal statistics concerning the more important substances have been given prompt publication in special bulletins, and grateful acknowledgment is due to the active co-operation in this effort given by the daily and technical press.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES.

CALENDAR YEAR 1887.

DAVID T. DAY,

Chief of Division of Mining Statistics and Technology.

SUMMARY, 1887.

METALS.

Iron. The principal statistics for 1887 were: Domestic iron ore consumed, about 11,300,000 long tons; value at mines, $33,900,000. This is an increase over 1886 of 1,300,000 tons in quantity and $5,900,000 in value. Imported iron ore consumed, 1,194,301 long tons; total iron ore consumed in 1887, about 12,494,301 long tons, or 1,454,868 tons more than in 1886. Pig iron made, 6,417,148 long tons; value at furnace, $121,925,800. This is an increase over 1886 of 733,819 tons in quantity and $26,730,040 in value. Steel of all kinds produced, 3,339,071 long tons, an increase of 776,569 tons over 1886; value at works, $103,811,000. Total spot value of all iron and steel in the first stage of manufacture, excluding all duplications, $171,103,000, an increase of $28,603,000, as compared with 1886. Limestone, used as flux in the manufacture of pig iron in 1887, about 5,377,000 long tons; value at quarry, about $3,226,200.

Gold and silver. The total value of gold produced in 1887 was. $33,100,000, a decrease of $1,900,000 from 1886. Silver increased from $51,000,000 in 1886, to $53,441,300 (coining value) in 1887.

Copper. Total production 184,670,524 pounds, of which 3,750,000 pounds were made from imported pyrites. The total value was $21,052,440, at an average of 11.4 cents per pound. The estimated total consumption of copper in the United States increased by about 14 per cent.

Lead. The production of lead was 160,700 short tons, valued at $14,463,000 at $90 per short ton. The heavy increase of "desilverized" lead from 114,829 short tons in 1886 to 135,552 in 1887 was probably 9164-MIN-1

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due to the importation of Mexican lead silver ores. The large product of non-argentiferous lead, 25,148 short tons, is due chiefly to the development of the Saint Joe district in Missouri. The production of white lead, and the several oxides, from pig lead increased to a total of about 75,000 short tons.

Zinc.-The producers' returns show an increase from 42,641 short tons in 1886 to 50,340 in 1887. The price increased to 43 cents per pound, making the total value in 1887, $4,782,300. The production of zinc oxide was practically steady at 18,000 short tons, valued at $1,440,000. Quicksilver.-Production and value increased from 29,981 flasks, valued at $1,060,000, to 33,825 flasks, valued at $1,429,000. Except 65 flasks from Oregon the total supply came from California. The price in 1887 varied from $36.50 to $48 per flask in San Francisco.

Nickel. The supply includes 183,125 pounds of metallic nickel, valued at $117,200; 10,846 pounds of metallic nickel contained in matte, and 11,595 pounds contained in nickel ammonium sulphate. Total value, $133,200.

Cobalt oxide. The product includes 5,769 pounds of cobalt oxide for potters' use, and 12,571 pounds of oxide in matte exported to Europe. Total value, $18,774.

Chromium.-Shipments from California increased to 3,000 long tons on account of better freight facilities by rail to the Eastern States. The total value in San Francisco was $40,000.

Manganese. The total production of manganese ore in the year ending December 31, 1887, was 34,524 long tons, valued at $333,844. The production of manganiferous iron ore was 211,751 tons, valued at about $600,000. The production of argentiferous manganese ores was 60,000 tons, valued, chiefly for its silver, at about $600,000.

Antimony. The production, all in California, was 75 tons, valued at $15,500. This is an increase from 35 tons in 1886, valued at $7,000.

Aluminum.-The production of aluminum bronze containing 10 per cent. of aluminum increased to 144,764 pounds in 1887, valued at $57,905. Other alloys, principally of iron and aluminum, amounted to 42,617 pounds, worth $17,000.

Platinum.-Considerable search by dealers produced 418 ounces of crude platinum, valued at $1,838. Part of this came from British Columbia.

FUELS.

Coal.—The total production of all kinds of commercial coal in 1887 was 124,015,255 short tons (increase over 1886, 16,333,046 tons), valued at the mines at $173,595,996 (increase, $26,483,241). This may be divided into Pennsylvania anthracite, 39,506,255 short tons (increase, 2,809,780 short tons), or 35,273,442 long tons (increase, 2,508,732 iong tons), valued at $79,365,244 (increase, $7,807,118); all other coals, including bituminous, brown coal, lignite, small lots of authracite pro

duced in Colorado and Arkansas, and 6,000 tons of graphitic coal mined in Rhode Island, amounting in the aggregate to 84,509,000 short tons (increase, 13,523,266 tons), valued at $94,230,752 (increase, $18,676,123).

The colliery consumption at the individual mines varies from nothing to 8 per cent. of the total output of the mines, being greatest at special Pennsylvania anthracite mines and lowest at those bituminous mines where the coal bed lies nearly horizontal and where no steam-power or ventilating furnaces are used. The averages for the different States vary from 2.1 to 64 per cent., the minimum average being in the Pennsylvania bituminous and the maximum average in the Pennsylvania anthracite region.

The total output of the mines, including colliery consumption, was: Pennsylvania anthracite, 37,578,747 long tons (increase over 1886 2,725,670 long tons), or 42,088,197 short tons (increase, 3,052,751 short tous); all other coals, 87,887,360 short tons (increase, 14,179,403 tons); making the total output of all coals from mines in the United States, exclusive of slack coal thrown on the dumps, 129,975,557 short tons (increase, 17,232,154 tons), valued as follows: Anthracite, $84,552,181 (increase, $8,433,061); bituminous, $98,004,656 (increase, $19,523,600); total value, $182,556,837 (increase, $27,956,661). The above figures show a notable increase in 1887 over 1886 in the aggregate output and value of both anthracite and bituminous coal.

Coke. The total production of coke in the United States for the year ending December 31, 1887, was 7,857,487 short tons, and was valued at $15,723,574. This is the greatest product ever reached in the United States, being 1,022,419 tons greater than in 1886.

Petroleum.-Total production, 28,249,597 barrels of 42 gallons each. The total value, at an average of 663 cents, was $18,856,606. The increase over 1886 was very slight, only 139,482 barrels. There was a decrease of 44 cents per barrel in the average price.

Natural gas.-The production of natural gas in the United States in 1887 was equivalent to 9,867,000 short tons of coal displaced. The value of the coal displaced by natural gas (which is the measure of the value of the gas) was $15,838,500. In 1886 the corresponding quantity was 6.353,000 tons, worth $9,847,150.

STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.

Building stone.-Direct returns from producers show a total value of $25,000,000. This marked increase shows that the statement for 1886 was too small.

Brick and tile.-Value, $47,000,000. This represents an increase of about 13 per cent. in the production of brick and a decrease in tile, owing to the drought in 1887 in Indiana and Ohio. Prices were slightly lower.