MINERAL PRODUCTS.
9
of the United States,” and the 1913 volume also contains a map
showing the distribution of limestone.
The Bureau of Mines has issued a comprehensive report on coal
analyses (Bulletin 22), representing the important analytical work
done in connection with the fuel investigations by that bureau as
well as the field surveys by the Geological Survey. Another bulletin
on the same subject, including the analyses made since July 1, 1910,
is in press and will be issued early in September.
The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department
of Commerce issues a “ Monthly Summary of Commerce and
Finance of the United States,” which is, of course, the source of
authoritative data regarding imports and exports.
Another source of information that is of service to the public is
the Geological Survey’s list of mineral producers. In response to
specific inquiries as to the location of mines of any kind tributary
to any particular market, extracts can be furnished from this list.
The list, however, is not published, as it includes about 90,000 names
and addresses of producers and is constantly being revised, the
changes each year amounting to 25 per cent of the list. It can be
largely utilized, however, in reply to inquiries from consumers of
mineral products.
THE MINERAL PRODUCTS.
VALUE AND SUPPLY.
The value of the mineral production of the United States now
reaches $2,500,000,000 a year. Though this value falls far below
that of the country’s farm products, the magnitude and scope of our
mineral industry may be best measured by comparing our own
mineral production with that of other countries, no one of which
can compete with us in abundance or variety of mineral resources.
The United States mines nearly 40 per cent of the world’s output of
coal and produced 65 per cent of the petroleum in 1913. Of the more
essential metals, 40 per cent of the world’s output of iron ore is
raised from American mines, and the smelters of the United States
furnish the world with 55 per cent of its copper and at least 30 per
cent of its lead and zinc. These are the raw materials on which has
been founded a great metallurgical industry, but on which can be
built much more extensive chemical and metal-working industries.
The table of production published each year by the Geological
Survey contains no less than 12 items. For present purposes only
a relatively small number of these items need to be mentioned, and
for convenience these may be grouped under three general headings—mineral
fuels, metals, and miscellaneous minerals, the last
heading including principally structural materials, fertilizers, and
crude chemicals. In each of these groups there are several minerals
which already enter largely into the world’s commerce, and their
