MINERAL INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA, 1915 DATA COMPILED FROM DIRECT RETURNS FROM CHAPTER ONE. Mineral output in California during the year 1915 amounted to $96,663,369 worth of crude materials. There were forty-nine different mineral substances, and of the fifty-eight counties in the state all but two contributed some mineral product. As compared with the 1914 output, the two notable features are the almost startling increases in some of the metals, and the decrease in petroleum, both in quantity and total value. The result, however, is a net increase in the grand total value, of $3,348,596 over the 1914 total. Of the metals: Antimony again entered the active list after an absence of several years. Copper increased over 10,000,000 pounds in amount and $3,114,192 in value. Gold increased $1,788,800. Quicksilver increased about 25% in amount and more than doubled in value. Tungsten increased from a value of $180,575 to $1,005,467. Zinc increased from 399,641 pounds, worth $20,381, to 13,043,411 pounds valued at $1,617,383. Petroleum decreased approximately 12,000,000 barrels in amount, but the average price per barrel was slightly higher, so that the net result was a decrease in value of $3,983,272. The figures of the State Mining Bureau are made up from reports made by the producers of the various minerals. Care is exercised in avoiding duplication, and any error is doubtless upon the side of underestimation. It would be folly to attempt to set a limit of maximum mineral production for California, because the mineral resources are so extensive and have been so slightly developed along many lines. California yields commercially a greater number and variety of mineral products than any other state in the United States; and possesses latent possibilities in other items as yet undeveloped. The total annual value of her output is surpassed by but four other statesthey being the great coal and iron producers of east of the Mississippi River. Of several items, including borax, chrome and magnesite, California is the sole producer. For several years we have been leading all others in gold, petroleum, platinum and tungsten; but surpassed in 1915, for the first time in petroleum by Oklahoma. The following table shows the yield of mineral substances of California for 1915, as compiled from the returns received at the State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, in answer to inquiries sent to producers: *Includes granite, macadam, rubble, paving blocks, sand and gravel, and grinding mill pebbles. |