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TABLE I-Summary of General Results from Coal, Lead, Zinc and Iron Mines in Missouri for the year ending June 30, 1892, compared with the year ending June 30, 1891.

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Total amount received for minerals at mines*. $8,896,995 $9,116,949

*$219,945

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*Last year pig-lead was embodied in the figures of this table at nearly double the price per ton of lead ore. This year only the lead ore is accounted for; the amount which should be added to make fair comparison and offset the pig-lead estimated last year, equals $358,416, which, added to this year's total receipts from minerals, gives a grand total of $9,475,356, or an increase in fact over last year of $578,361.

From the following table a comparison may be noticed, showing the tonnage of lead, zinc, coal and iron for each of the past four years. The increase of lead, zinc and coal has been great, while that of iron has declined. For the first three years, as per table, coal has averaged a gain of 213,000 tons per annum, while the increase for the year just closed shows a gain of 367,267 tons, or an increase of gain over the gain of previous years of 72%. We are unable to make comparison of increase in the lead product, owing to the fact that pig-lead and lead ore cannot satisfactorily be separated in the three former years.

Zinc ore has made a wonderful jump since the report of 1889. The difference in the number of tons produced in 1889 and that of 1892 amounts to an increase of 49,287 tons, or a gain for 1892 over 1889 of 60%.

TABLE II-Comparison of the Tonnage of Lead, Zinc, Coal and Iron Mines of Missouri for past four years.

Pig Lead for 1892 is dropped out and only Lead ore accounted for.

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The coal industry has steadily increased year after year. No period in the history of the State has shown the progress that this year develops.

The increase shown by this report over the preceding year amounts to 367,267 tons, or very nearly 14% of the entire tonnage of the year before. This is indicative of increased population, as well as demand from other sources. As the output is governed by the demand, yet, if the necessity should arise for double the amount of coal produced last year, we feel confident that in a short time our mines would meet such increase without embarrassment. There has been a good demand in almost all the mining sections of the State for miners, and we are constantly in receipt of circulars from operators advertising for men.

The following table will show that there are now 454 mines in operation, an increase of 68. It also shows increases as follows: Ten steam-powers. 27 horse-powers, 17 shafts, 9 slopes, 28 drifts and 24 strip-pits. The table shows a decrease of 1906 kegs of powder as compared with last year, which is a gratifying showing when it is remembered that much more coal has been mined during the year. It will be found that there was an average of 9699 men employed in winter, and an average of 6419 in summer. There were 20 fatal and 41 non-fatal accidents. The total number of tons mined amounts to 3,017,285. The total amount received for same at the mines amounts to $3,825,828.57. The average price received per ton at mines was $1.268, or a decrease from the price received last year of 4 cents.

TABLE III-Recapitulation of General Results of Coal Mines in Missouri for Year Ending June 30, 1892, Compared with the Year Ending June 30, 1891.

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AND OLD ONES WORKED OUT OR ABANDONED.

During the past year there have been 23 new coal mines opened in the State, some of which are very important, while only ten have been worked out or abandoned, thus showing an increase of 13.

This, however, does not represent all the new mines, but only the more important ones. Indeed, there are so many places throughout the State where coal is mined in a small way at intervals, that it is a matter of impossibility for one Inspector to keep track of them all. For instance, a farmer may open a small mine upon his farm, and operate it for six or eight months, then abandon it without the inspector's knowledge. But such small local banks are not included in the following table, nor are mines included that are temporarily idle.

It will be observed by a glance at the table that some of the mining companies have only worked out one mine to open another. This fact, together with the number of new mines opened, is evidence that the coal industry of the State is in a healthy condition. The report also compares favorably, in this respect, with the one for the preceding year; that report showed seventeen new mines to have been opened and five worked out or abandoned, while this one shows ten to have been abandoned. Yet it also reveals the fact that an increase of six' mines has been added.

Lafayette county comes to the front with five new openings, this being the greatest number of new mines opened in any one county, while she reports only one mine as being abandoned. Henry county comes next with four new mines and two abandoned ones. Then comes Macon county reporting three abandoned and three new ones opened. Bates, Ray and Vernon each have two new openings, while Bates reports four as being worked out. Audrain, Callaway, Jackson, Linn and Saline each report one new mine as being opened, but none abandoned.

TABLE IV-Showing mines opened, also those worked out or abandoned, during the year ending June 30, 1892.

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IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN COAL MINES.

In a table below is given a summary of the principal improvements made in and about the coal mines of the State during the past year. It must be understood, however, that these improvements are not a part of the new plants erected, but represent only those made at mines which were in operation heretofore.

Many of the large companies sink escape-shafts, build railroad switches and erect a fan at the same time they are sinking hoistingshaft. In such instances no mention is made in the report of these improvements, but it is simply given as a new plant.

For instance, the table shows eight mines to have been equipped with machinery; now should we include the nine new steam plants which have been put in operation during the past year, the figures would be a little misleading.

The good work of giving more attention to ventilation is growing each year in the State, as a glance at the following table will show. The erection of four new fans to take the place of furnaces, besides the three fans which were replaced at mines by larger ones, speaks well for the ventilating appliances added during the year, to say nothing about

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