Production and imports of alum and aluminum sulphate into the United States, 1898–1903.

a Includes alumina, alum, alum cake, aluminum sulphate, aluminous cake, and alum in crystals or ground.

There was also imported in 1898, 1,205 short tons ($76,884) of aluminum hydrate, or refined bauxite; in 1899, 1,926 short tons ($119,202); in 1900, 2,207 short tons ($148,832); in 1901, 1 986 short tons ($146,462); in 1902, 339 short tons ($21,235); and in 1903, 1,386 short tons ($93,465).

QUICKSILVER.

PRODUCTION.

The production of quicksilver in the United States during 1903 amounted to 35,620 flasks of 76 pounds each, valued at $1,544,934, as compared with 34,291 flasks, valued at $1,467,848, in 1902. an increase in quantity of 1,329 flasks, and in value of $77,086.

TEXAS.

The production of quicksilver decreased in Texas from 5,319 flasks, valued at $239,350, in 1902, to 5,029 flasks, valued at $211,218, in 1903. During the year Prof. William B. Phillips, director of the University of Texas mineral survey, published a carefully prepared statement in regard to considerable extensions of the quicksilver-bearing area in Texas. It is evident that quicksilver mining in Texas should increase for several years before reaching the maximum.

CALIFORNIA.

The product from the mines, which has been carefully described in previous reports, amounted to 30,526 flasks, worth $1,330,916. The following table gives the production of quicksilver in California since 1850:

Total production of quicksilver in California, 1850-1903.
[Flasks of 76 pounds net.]

The production of quicksilver in California, by counties, for 1902 and 1903, is given in the following table:

Production of quicksilver in California, by counties, during 1902 and 1903.

The variation in average prices for quicksilver, per flask, in San Francisco during the years 1902 and 1903, by months, is shown in the following table:

Average price of quicksilver, per flask, at San Francisco during 1902 and 1903, by months.

IMPORTS.

The following table shows only slight changes in the imports of quicksilver, which have been merely nominal for the last ten years:

Quicksilver imported and entered for consumption in the United States, 1867–1903.

The following table gives the exports of quicksilver from San Francisco only during the year 1903, amounting to 10,722 flasks, valued at $446,845:

Exports of domestic quicksilver from San Francisco during 1903, by countries.