Missouri & the United States Mineral Industry circa 1899
Excerpts from
The Mineral Industry, Its Statistics, Technology and Trade in the United States and Other Countries to The End of 1899
Edited by Richard P. Rothwell, Editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal, Ex-President American Institute of Mining Engineers; Member American Society of Civil Engineers; Fellow Royal Statistical Society, London; Member of American Statistical Association, etc.
Vol. VIII. Supplementing Vols. I to VII.
New York and London: The Scientific Publishing Company
1900.
(Please note: This book is available for reading or downloading to your computer on the Google Book Search web site.)
Stone.
“Under this caption are included the chief varieties of stone produced in the United States: granite, limestone (including marble and onyx), sandstone, and road metal. This last subdivision is based on a special use for stone and is not a variety itself. The subject of good roads, however, is one of such growing importance that it merits a place in the discussion of stones in general. The variety slate is discussed under a separate caption elsewhere in this volume.
“It is practically impossible to collect statistics of the various branches of the stone industry which shall represent the exact condition of the industry, a large production being made by individuals who keep no record of their work.
“The value of the total production of stone in the United States (not including slate and sandstone used for manufacture of grindstones, which is reported elsewhere) was approximately $38,797,487 for 1899, and $35,404,900 for 1898, divided as follows; the values for 1898 are given in brackets. Granite, $10,200,000 ($9,500,000); limestone for building, $14,600,000 ($14,000,000); limestone for flux, $3,197,487 ($2,304,900); marble, $4,200,000 ($4,000,000); sandstone, $5,600,000 ($4,800,000); bluestone, $1,000,000 ($800,000).
The Stone Industry.
By Charles L. Whittle.
“In the preparation of this review, I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Wm. Beals, Jr., for the manuscript relating to Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. I have freely made use of the publications of the United States Geological Survey, State Geological Reports and several periodicals of the stone trade. These periodicals are: The Stone Trade News and Building Journal, National Granite Cutters’ Journal, Granite, The Monumental News, and Stone. I wish to express my obligations to Profs. George E. Ladd, William B. Clark, Fred D. Smith, J. A. Holmes, A. J. Collier, J. E. Todd and Wilbur C. Knight for many useful notes, and also to Messrs. Henry A. Lee, W. S. Blatchley, H. Foster Bain, W. M. Courtis, R. A. Shifleff, H. B. Kümmel, S. W. McCallie and F. J. H. Merrill.
“The year 1899 witnessed an activity in the business of stone quarrying and stone trade which has permeated all branches of the industry, a renewal which has been general over all parts of the United States. This favorable condition is not confined to a demand for any particular type of stone, and every State where stone is quarried or treated, is receiving its proportion of the increase. With the almost universal revival of business throughout the United States, this was to be expected, as nearly all lines of industrial activity are interdependent, and the common remark that prevailing conditions in the business world are reflected in this or that industry applies equally well to the stone trade. The great demand for stone has not only resulted in increased production of old quarries, but a large number of abandoned quarries have been reopened, and many new stones have been exploited.
“On account of the increased demand for stone, many quarries were opened much earlier in the spring than usual and were kept in operation well into the following winter season. Reports are prevalent from many parts of the country of putting on two quarry shifts and working night as well as day, and this is true of finishing work also. The middle West is beginning to feel the influence of the spreading demand for macadam and telford roads, and the installation of crushing plants by towns and cities and by individuals for custom trade in that part of the country, reflects this new condition. The unusually large number of important Federal buildings and other extensive governmental undertakings, as dry docks and jetties, are calling for immense quantities of the best class of building stones. Railroads are taking advantage of increased earnings by stone ballasting their road beds and doing other work calling for the product of the quarry. Great activity in the construction of new buildings furnishes a steady demand for dimension stock, and also stimulates the limestone and cement quarries. There have been over 270 new quarries opened, old ones reopened, and new companies incorporated in the United States during 1899 to carry on quarrying or a general stone business, not taking into account the large number of individuals who have opened quarries of which there is no public record. This increase is greatest in New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Reports are widespread that this activity will increase during 1900.
“Stone quarrying and stone finishing works have been beset with perhaps the usual number of labor troubles, but it is to be noted that disorders of this kind are confined in the main to the New England States, or have their origin there. This condition of affairs is owing to the fact that New England, with its long-entrenched and numerous quarries and consequent large numbers of employees, possesses labor organizations which act as a unit when differences between capital and labor arise. Between the large number of producers in New England, competition is more severe than in any other part of this country - a condition of things very likely to produce a conflict of capital and labor.
“These conditions have been reflected in the efforts on the part of many quarriers in the two large centers of the granite industry - Quincy, Mass., and Barre, Vt. - to conform to the prevailing policy in the country at this time among many other industries, of trade combination or ‘trusts’ in order to cheapen production and other expenses incident to the quarrying, manufacture and distribution of stone. While all endeavors of this nature have met with failure among the granite producers so far, it is more than probable that at no distant day the very large number of separate concerns now in operation will be very materially lessened by consolidation, although it is doubtful if stone trusts, controlling the price throughout the country, will be organized for some time to come. If such amalgamations shall be organized, and there are indications that a certain amount of consolidation will be deemed necessary by the granite manufacturers, the marble industry will naturally be the first one to be operated under one management on account of the limited number of quarries of this stone. The granite quarries are too widely scattered to be successfully operated under the proposed plan, especially when consideration is taken of the enormous capital invested in this industry, and the wide distribution of quarries and of rocks of this class. Outside of New England, New York and Pennsylvania, the new stone centers, each having a narrower market, so far as population is concerned, are as yet little effected by the keenness of competition common to districts whose natural resources have reached very nearly their maximum development, with the result that capital has little temptation to combine, and for years to come will not join in an attempt to control production and dictate prices. The Granite Cutters’ National Union, which is seeking to establish a maximum eight-hour law and a minimum $3 wage scale throughout the country, beginning March 1, 1900, is using the mighty power of united labor to bring about conditions (if it shall be successful) which will be one of the strongest factors tending toward a consolidation of the quarry interests and other departments of the business. When the eight-hour law and uniform wage scale shall have been secured, solving of present difficulties will give place to the suffering brought about by idle plants and discharged employees incident to the economics which will be practiced by the so-called trusts. The business of granite cutting during 1900 promises to be beset with serious troubles which will affect all industries dependent on the use of stone. There are numerous indications that granite manufactures will not unitedly agree to the eight-hour day and the minimum wage scale proposed by the union, and strikes of formidable dimensions and far-reaching in their effects are anticipated. With the fine trade prospects for 1900 over the entire country, it is to be regretted that the demands of the granite cutters should be pressed at this time to the detriment of the stone industry. The best view of the situation is that the labor-saving devices, which have been perfected during the last few years, may have so cheapened quarry and finishing methods that manufacturers may still be able to carry on business at a profit, when stone is in such great demand. If this shall prove to be the case, the prospective difficulties anticipated for 1900 will be postponed until the present activity shall have disappeared.
“The eastern part of the United States is suffering somewhat, owing to the gradual development of the stone resources of the middle West and in the South.
“Not a little of the increased activity in the stone industry is due to the building of telford and macadam roads in many states of the Union. States and individuals desiring the most available and suitable stones for road purpose have furnished them the incentive to investigate the ledges in their neighborhood - a process which is developing not only our road metal resources but which is bringing to light many stones for higher uses.
Granite.
“Under this division are naturally grouped those igneous rocks whose physical properties approximate those of granite and whose use is similar. Very nearly one-half of the total output produced in the United States comes from Massachusetts. The value of the granite production in the United States in 1899 was approximately $10,200,000, against $9,500,000 in 1898.
“About 60% of the output is used for construction purposes of all kinds, including bridges, retaining walls and similar structures. For these purposes it is used both in the rough and in the cut condition. About 25% is consumed in the construction and maintenance of highways. The balance is taken up for monumental and cemetery purposes. The progress of the granite industry during 1899 in the principle producing States is summarized as follows:....”
(There is no section that covers Missouri granite.)
Limestone.
“The varieties of limestone, representing many conditions of physical structure and chemical composition, are employed in numerous ways. The massive varieties and dolomite furnish excellent material for structural purposes usually in a dressed condition. The crushed stone, while inferior to most rocks, is also used for making roads. The purer varieties of limestone, free from silica and magnesia, are very extensively employed as a flux in smelting ores of iron, copper and lead, and find an additional use for the manufacture of lime* and cement. Crystalline limestone or marble is also employed in the manufacture of lime. As a building material it is more valuable than the fine grained varieties. Black and variegated marbles are highly prized for their artistic effect in interior work, and often approach in value the onyx marbles. The best variety of ornamental purposes is the onyx marble which is deposited from an aqueous solution in different colored layers, forming a beautiful stone that can be utilized very advantageously to produce ornamental effects. The variety of limestone called lithographic stone has for many years been indispensable in lithography; of late this stone has been replaced to a considerable extent by aluminum in plates which offer the special advantage that the plate after use is of value.
(* Page 552 footnote: Reference should be made to the very complete article on “Lime Burning,” by Hans A. Frasch, in The Mineral Industry, Vol. VII.)
“The production of limestone for building in the United States in 1899 was valued approximately at $14,600,000, against $14,000,000 in 1898, while the approximate values for limestone used as flux were for 1899 and 1898 respectively $3,197,487 and $2,304,900....”
“Missouri. - A large part of the limestone quarried for building purposes comes from Carthage. The limestone quarries in the vicinity of St. Louis furnish immense quantities of stone used for macadam, some dimension stock, local material for foundations, and limestone for burning.
“The so-called saccharoidal sandstone, used for glass making, which is quarried at Pacific and Crystal cities, has furnished the raw material for this important industry in Missouri. The works at Crystal City have been closed down by the plate glass trust and 2,000 people have been thrown out of employment....”
(Marble)
“Marble in an unusual degree fulfills the conditions of a perfect building stone, namely: Strength, durability, beauty and first cost. It is strong constructional material, having a crushing strength exceeding 15,000 lb. per sq. in.; it resists fire to a much greater extent than other building stones, enduring a heat which would seriously injure if not destroy sandstone and granite, and its low ratio of absorption adds greatly to the life of the stone.
“Reports of the past year show a great increase in all branches of the marble industry.
(There is no section that covers marble in Missouri.)
Sandstone.
“There are several varieties of quartz and highly siliceous sedimentary rocks that are of industrial importance, and under this division will be discussed those that pertain more particularly to building and other structural purposes. The varieties of diatomaceous earth, flint and quartz, moulding sand, and tripoli will be found under the caption ‘Silica’ - elsewhere in this volume.
“The production of sandstone in the United States is mainly employed for constructional purposes, the chief variety being that commonly known as brownstone and bluestone, the lighter colored sandstones and quartzites being of lesser importance. The hard compact sandstone quarried in Ohio for manufacture of grindstone will be discussed under the caption ‘Silica.’
“Sandstone to the approximately value of $5,600,000 was produced in the United States in 1899, against $4,800,000 in 1898 and the values of the bluestone production for the two years were $1,000,000 and $800,000....”
(There is no section that covers Missouri sandstone.)
Road Metal.
“During 1899 the spread of macadam and telford road building, which has been progressing in this country for the last five years was maintained, and the consumption of the various stones used for this purpose is becoming an important part, both in value and in quantity of the total production of stone in many States. Instruction is being given the citizens of this country as to the qualities on which good road stones depend. Massachusetts, Maryland, Wisconsin and the Department of Road Inquiry, established by the United States Government, are active in imparting information of this kind. There is pressing need that all States should follow the example of Maryland and instruct their citizens in this regard, and, at the same time, furnish information as to the kinds and distribution of stones suitable for this purpose within their boundaries. The aggregate saving to the people in any one year, if this were done, would more than equal the first cost of such an investigation. Much is being accomplished in the establishment of laboratories run by the States where Stones may be tested as to their suitability for road metals, free of charge....”
(There is no section that covers road metal in Missouri.)
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