Production statistics.—The
Hon. James P. Kimball, Director of the Mint, makes an annual estimate
of the production of the precious metals, which is accepted as
authoritative in this report, no provision hay-ing yet been made for
the collection of the statistics of gold and silver in this office. The
production of gold is estimated at 1,596,500 flue ounces, valued at
$33,000,000. This is a decrease in value of $2,000,000 as compared with
the product of 1886. Silver increased from 39,445,312 fine ounces,
worth $51,000,000, to 41,269,240 fine ounces, with a coining value of
$53,357,000, in 1887. The combined value of the gold and silver
product in 1887 was $86,357,000. The following geographic distribution
of the product is intended as approximate only.
Approximate
distribution in round numbers, by States and Territories, of the
estimated total production of precious metals in the United States
during the calendar years 1881 to 1886 inclusive.
