dent Insurance, General Accident of Philadelphia, London Guarantee and Accident, Maryland Casualty, National Surety, New Amsterdam Casualty, North American Accident, Pacific Mutual Life, Pacific Surety, Pennsylvania Casualty, Philadelphia Casualty, Preferred Accident, Standard Life and Accident, Travellers, Union Casualty and Surety, Union Surety and Guaranty, United States Casualty, Ocean Accident and Guarantee. FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE MILLIONAIRE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES, JANUARY 1, 1902. (Compiled from The Fire Insurance Year Book for 1902.) Companies. Capital. Net Book Assets. Net Surplus. Etna, Connecticut. Boston, Massachusetts. British-American, Canada. Buffalo German, New York. Commercial Union, England. Connecticut Fire, Connecticut. Delaware, Pennsylvania. Detroit Fire and Marine, Michigan. Fire Association, Pennsylvania. Fireman's Fund, California. Firemen's, Maryland.. Firemen's, New Jersey. Franklin, Pennsylvania. German, Maryland.. German, New York. German Alliance, New York.. German-American, New York. Germania, New York.. Girard Fire and Marine, Pennsylvania. Glens Falls, New York.. Greenwich, New York.. Hamburg-Bremen, Germany. Hanover, New York.. Hartford, Connecticut. Home, New York. .................................. ............................................. 600,000 383:38 3,941,138 1,700,298 500,000 127.34 2,360,887 136.714 1,000,000 225.24 3,215,081 1,252,386 1,102,259 434,167 1,000,000 200,000 1,453,519 1,865,819 837,539 13,939,653 1,148,293 1,016,861 301,087 1,000,000 198.08 4,417,262 980,776 11,599,012 4,901,328 1,575,551 71,055 1,423,394 654,711 508,958 4,579,013 1,378,811 1,294,758 472,551 2,800,058 1,193,802 3,106,431 1,078,240 1,486,037 823,945 200,000 570.89 3,812,369 941,775 1,163,345 406,970 2,484,448 300,000 294.91 1,997,883 584,742 2,231,133 135,656 1,594,996 354,683 ANNUAL FIRE LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS-1875-1901. Protecting America's Vanishing Animals. The question of the preservation of such characteristic animals of the United States as are now in danger of extinction is one which has attracted widespread attention among naturalists and students during the past few years, but it was not until its last session that Congress decided that the problem was one of National importance. In January, 1902, however, a resolution was passed instructing the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the matter and report upon the desirability of Government interposition in the case of the buffalo. As the result, just before the close of the Fifty-seventh Congress, Secretary Hitchcock submitted a report in which he not only furnished the figures in regard to the number of buffalo still in existence, but presented a definite plan for their future protection. "In my judgment," he said, "steps should be taken by the United States for the preservation from extinction of the buffalo or American bison, and with that end in view I have submitted to Congress an_estimate of $30,000 for the purchase of buffalo and the corraling of them in the Yellowstone National Park. With these animals in a national reservation, under Government supervision, it is believed that a herd of pure-blooded American bison may be domesticated, which will increase in numbers, and the herds now running wild in the Park may be also benefited by the introduction therein of new blood." The table submitted by the Secretary of the Interior was as follows: The report was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and will probably be sent to Congress during the next session, after which, if the suggestion regarding the buffalo is adopted, those who are Interested in the preservation of America's vanishing fauna will submit similar resolutions for the better protection of the grizzly bear, beaver, elk, moose, mountain sheep and goat, and other contemporaneous animals that will soon become as extinct as the mammoth if something is not done to check their destruction. Mineral Production of the United States. In 1901, for the second time, the total value of the mineral products of the country exceeded $1,000.000,000, the exact amount being $1,086,529,521. As heretofore iron and coal were the most important of our mineral products, the greater part of the iron ore of the country continues to come from the Lake Superior region, which, in 1901, produced 74 per cent of the total quantity mined. The table below gives the production of the more important minerals for 1901. The production of aluminum in 1901 amounted to 7,150,000 pounds, the Pittsburg Reduction Company being the sole producer. Of bauxite there was 18,905 long tons produced, Georgia yielding the greater bulk of the production. is used mainly for the manufacture of aluininum. It Platinum to the amount of 1,408 ounces was produced, in connection with which there was obtained 253 ounces of iridium, a metal closely allied with platinum in its properties. The production of quicksilver amounted to 29,727 flasks of 76%1⁄2 pounds, valued at 1,382,305, an increase of $79,719 over 1900. The only nickel and cobalt produced during the year were by-products from the smelting of lead ores at the mines at La Motte, Nev., and amounted to only 6,700 pounds of nickel and 13,360 pounds of cobalt oxide, leaving the country largely dependent upon imports for its supply. Antimony, used principally for making alloys, is produced in this country to the amount of only a few hundred tons. But 319 tons of bismuth were mined in this country in 1901, Colorado supplying the entire output. For a number of years the United States has been dependent upon foreign countries for its tungsten ores. Recent discoveries have shown, however, that they can be produced here in quantities sufficient to more than supply the home demand. Minerals containing titanium are found widely distributed and in such large quantities as to make titanium a relatively abundant element. The recent discovery of large deposits of rutile in Virginia has brought to the attention of the ceramic and steel industries the commercial possibilities of this ore of titanium, which has hitherto been little used in this country. It is useful in ceramics and the manufacture of steel. Under favorable conditions a market for the American product will undoubtedly develop, but it is doubtful if the demand, for the uses now known, will be very great. Of asphaltum and bituminous rock the product in 1901 was 63.134 short tons, valued at $555,335. In the production of stone, which is given in the table, are included granite, limestone, slate and marble. Every state in the Union, with the exception of Louisiana and Mississippi, produces more or less stone. In the year 1901 the production of Portland cement amounted to 4,229,205 barrels, 50 per cent over that of the previous year, valued at $12,532,360. Of natural rock cement there was produced 7,084,823 barrels, valued at $3,056,278, and of 272,689 barrels, value $198,151. The production of precious stones in the United States is very limited, but of semi-precious stones a considerable quantity is found. The figures of value for 1901 are as follows: Diamond, $100; sapphire, $90,000; ruby, $500; beryl, $5,000; emerald, $1,000; tourmaline, $15,000; peridot, $500: crystal quartz. $10,000; smoky quartz, $1,000: rose quartz, $150; gold quartz, $2,000; rutilated quartz, $50; tourmalinated quartz, $1,000; amethyst, $500; agate. $1,000; moss agate, $500; chrysoprase. $1,500; silicified wood, $7.000; garnet, $100; rhodolite, $21,000; garnet, $1,000; Amazon stone. $200; turquoise. $118,000; utahlite, $250; chlorastrolite, $3,000; nesolite, $1,000: pyrite, $3,000; malachite, $100; rutile, $2,000; catlinite, $2,000; fossil coral. $100; arrowpoints, $500. Total, $289,050. The tale and soapstone produced in 1901 amounted to $28,643 short tons, valued at $424,888. The abrasive materials found in this country include oilstones, whetstones, grindstones, pulpstones, buhrstones, millstones, pumice, infusorial earth, tripoli, crystalline quartz, garnet, corundum, emery and carborundum. The amount of these materials used is greater than ever before, and while the production of some of them is on the decline, that of others is increasing. Their value in 1901 was $1.194,772. Progress in the development of the phosphate rock industry showed considerable improvement in 1901. The total produced was 1,483,723 long tons, having a value of $5.316.403. Greensand marl is found most extensively in New Jersey, although a small portion comes from Virginia. The total estimated production for the year was 99,880, of a value of $124.880. The production of sulphur during the year was 7.690 short tons, valued at $223,430, which was derived from Nevada, Idaho. Utah and Louisiana, in the order of importance of their output. The prosperous trade of the year 1901 stimulated the production of pyrite to the largest quantity yet recorded, amounting to 234,825 long tons, valued at $1,024,449. Gypsum was produced to the amount of 659,659 short tons, the value being $1,577,493. Borax is mainly derived from the colemite deposits of California. and the output in 1901 was 17,887 short tons of crude and 5,344 tons of refined, with a total value of $1,012.118. Mica has been found in many of the States, but in only a few so as to be of any commercial value. There was put out during the year 360,060 pounds of sheet, valued at $98,859, and 2,171 tons of scrap. worth $19.719. Fluorspar is also widely distributed throughout the country, but the same conditions obtain as with mica. The quantity obtained in 1901 was 19.586 short tons, valued at $113,803. The production of asbestos in the United States during 1901 was confined to the mountains at Sall Mountain, white County, Ga., with a little from Riverside County, Mass. It amounted to 747 short tons. valued at $13,498. The production of Crystalline graphite during the year was 3.967,612 pounds, valued at $135.914. The aggregate production of natural mineral paints for the year was 107,960 short tons, having a value of $4,509,962. Barytes is found in many places, and the output for the year was 49.070 tons, valued at $157,844. The greater part of our fuller's earth comes from the vicinity of Quincy, Fla., and the total production was 14.112 short tons, the valuation being $96,835. The production of flint in 1901 amounted to 34,420 short tons, valued at $149.297. Of feldspar there was a production of 34,741 short tons, the value being $220,422. Of chromite we produced 368 long tons, valued at $5,790. An increased demand for monazite was apparent during the year 1901, and there was produced 748,736 pounds, valued at $59,262. The production of magnesite is confined to California, and amounted in 1901 to 13,172 short tons, valued at $43,057. Of mineral springs there were 659 reported in 1901, with an output of 55,771,185 gallons, valued at $7,586,902. The United States produces only about 13 per cent of the manganese ores consumed in this country. The production by States in 1901 was as follows: Alabama, 17 long tons, value $1.111; Arkansas, 91, $657; California, 610, $3,610; Georgia, 4,074, $24.674; Missouri, 28, $280; Tennessee, 400, $3,287; Utah, 2,500, $31.250; Virginia, 4,275, $52,853; totals, 11,995, $116,722. The following tables give the production of minerals in detail. Owing to the general strike in the coal regions of Pennsylvania, the production of coal for 1902 will undoubtedly fall considerably short of that for 1901, but will probably come back to a normal basis during the next year. The product of natural gas is decreasing, owing to natural causes, and scientists say it is only a question of time when the deposits will be exhausted, and we shall obtain no more gas from this source. Large sums of money have been expended in developing the sources of this supply, but they have been returned, with liberal interest to the exploiters, so that there will be no real loss to complain of. The same has been said of petroleum, but new fields seem to be made apparent as the old decrease in production, so that there is no Immediate prospect of a substantial decrease in this supply. It will be noted that the only States in the Union having no mineral resources are Louisiana and Mississippi, although there are several which have nothing of the sort except building stone. MINERAL PRODUCTS IN 1901. (Prepared from the latest reports of the United States Government Survey.) 9,446,308 8,623,127 9,652.680 11,773,934| 13,620,703 13,789,242 15,878,354 55,727,000 58,834,800) 53,860,000 54,438,000] 54,764,500) 59,410,543 55,214,000 2,254,760 2,568,132 2,744,935 3,118,398 3,437,210] 3,837,215] 3,805,500 392,639,964 460,061,430 494,078,274 526,512,987 568,666,921 606,117,166 602,072,519 170,000 188,000 212,000 222,000 210,500 270,824 270,700 99,980 26.648 115,399 129,051 123,886) 140.822 Aluminum Lbs. 920,000 1,300,000 4,000,000 29,727 7,150,000 Antimony Nickel Lbs. 10,302 601 17,170 756 23,707 1,120 11,145 1,275 22,541 1,750 2,649 135,118,193 137,640,276 147,609,985 166,592,023 193,321,987 212,513,912 225,826,849 51,785,122 48,523,287 46,974,714 47,663,076 53,944,647 51,221,353 60,242,560 52,892,276 60,960,361 60,475,516 55,364,233 57,070,850 63,362,704 69,389,194 TOTAL VALUE OF THE MINERAL PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1881-1901. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. Metallic products... $192.892.408 $219,755,109 $203,128,859 $186,109,599 $181,586,587 $214,897,825 $248,925,054 Non-metallic products. 206,783,144 231,340,150 243.812,214 221,879 506 241,312,093 230,088,769 270,989,420 Unspecified products... 6,500,000 6,500,000! 6,500,000 5,000,000 5,000,000] 800,000 800,000 Total |$406,175,552 $457,595,259 $453,441,073|$412,989,105 $427,898,680 $445,786,594 $520,714,474 1894. Metallic products.. $253,731,822 $267,247,033 $305,735,670 $300,232,798 $307,716,239 $249.981,866 $218,168,788 Non-metallic products. 286,150 114 282,623,812 312,776,503 321,767,846 339,958,842 323,325,620 307,455,351 Unspecified products.. 900,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000.000 1,000,000 1.000.0001 1,000,000 Total |$540,781,936 $550,870,845 $619,512,173 $623,000.644 $648,675,081 $575,307,486 $526,624 139 1900. 1901. $552,418,627 $518,268,377 516,690,262 1,000,000 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899 Metallic products.. $281,913,839 $287,596,906 $302,198,502 $343,400,217 $525,472,243] Non-metallic prod'ts 338,345,361 333,936,110 327,655,427 353,802,130 445,428,651 567,261,144 Unspecified prod'ts. 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 Total |$621,259,000 $622,533,016|$630,853,929|$698,202,347 $971,900,894 $1,070,108,889 $1,086,529,521 |