Colorado, Dakota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia are known to contain slate terrains of more or less import ance. Very little effort, however, has been put forth to develop the slate industry in these respective States.
An inspection of the most recent statistics reveals the fact that there are now some 14 productive States in the Union. Pennsyl vania takes the lead, with an annual valuation of $3,609,957 for the production of 1914. Ver mont takes second place with a valuation of $1,414,247 for 1914. The valuation of the slate production of the following States exceeded $70,000; these are Maine, Virginia, New York and Maryland. Arkansas, California, Georgia and New Jersey also yield small amounts. In 1914 the valuation of the total production of the United States was $5,706,787. The latest addi tion to the list of producers is the State of Arkansas.
Export trade in roofing-slate reached its highest mark in 1898 with a valuation of 075. • Great Britain was the chief importer of
our product at this date. From the above date, however, our exports materially decreased. This was in the main due to the settlement of strikes in the Welsh quarries and the conse quent development of the slate industry in Wales. British Australia and Denmark were also importers of the American product. In 1914 exports had dropped to $139,125.
One of the most remarkable slate belts of this country lies in eastern New York and western Vermont, between the Taconic range on the east and Lake Champlain and the Hud son on the west, and chiefly between the Hoosic River on the south and the towns of Benson and Hubbardton, in Vermont, on the north. It attains a maximum length of 68 miles and an average width of about seven miles. The great producing centres lie in Wash ington County, N. Y., and Rutland, Vt.
The slates in this field are green of various shades, purple, variegated, that is, mixed green and purple, red and also black. See SHALE;