Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/308

 292 RHODE ISLAND the primary stratified and unstratified rocks generally prevailing with great uniformity. Cumberland in the north, on the contrary, is a very complicated geological district. As a general thing it may be said that the geologi- cal formation which distinguishes S. E. Mas- sachusetts extends to the N. parts of Ehode Island. The S. section is chiefly of a later era. Anthracite coal of an inferior quality exists in Cumberland and on Rhode island, in both of which localities it has been mined to a consid- erable extent. Iron ore is found in several places. Limestone abounds in the N. section, and there are some excellent quarries of mar- ble, freestone, and granite. Serpentine is also abundant. The climate of the whole state is mild, owing to its proximity to the sea. New- port and its vicinity, more affected by the va- pors from the Atlantic, is milder than the N. parts of the state. The soil is moderately fer- tile, but rough in many parts and difficult of cultivation. The island of Rhode Island was formerly well wooded, but it was entirely de- nuded of its forest trees while in possession of the British in the revolutionary war. It is now noted for its fine cattle, sheep, butter, and cheese. The soil of the islands is slaty, yet they are the most productive portions of the state. There is very little alluvial land. Pine plains are found in several places. Oak, wal- nut, and chestnut are the prevailing growth, with some pine. In the S. parts are some large cedar swamps. Indian corn, rye, and oats are the principal cereals. Wheat is rare- ly sown. On the whole the lands are better adapted to grazing than to the cultivation of cereals. The number of acres of improved land in farms in 1870 was 289,030 ; of farms, 5,368, of which 440 contained less than 10 acres each, 719 between 10 and 20, 1,960 be- tween 20 and 50, 1,488 between 50 and 100, 750 between 100 and 500, and 11 more than 500; cash value of farms, $21,574,968; of farming implements and machinery, $786,246 ; wages paid during the year, including value of board, $1,124,118; estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and addi- tions to stock, $4,761,163; value of orchard products, $43,036 ; of produce of market gar- dens, $316,133; of forest products, $254,683; of home manufactures, $37,847; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $755,552 ; of live stock, $3,135,132. The productions were 784 bushels of wheat, 20,214 of rye, 311,957 of Indian corn, 157,010 of oats, 33,- 559 of barley, 1,444 of buckwheat, 9,920 of peas and beans, 669,408 of Irish potatoes, 142 of sweet potatoes, 954 of clover seed, 1,988 of grass seed, 796 Ibs. of tobacco, 77,328 of wool, 941,199 of butter, 81,976 of cheese, 249 of hops, 498 of wax, 6,290 of honey, 20 gallons of sorghum molasses, 765 of wine, 1,944,044 of milk sold, and 89,045 tons of hay. The live stock on farms included 7,770 horses, 43 mules and asses, 18,806 milch cows, 5,821 working oxen, 9,748 other cattle, 23,938 sheep, and 14,607 swine; besides which there were 3,343 horses and 5,730 cattle not on farms. Manufacturing is the most important interest of the state. The chief water power is in Providence and Kent counties. The city of Providence is largely engaged in manufactur- ing by steam power. The following table is compiled from the last three federal censuses : TEAR. Number of eiUl.ll.h- moU. Number of hmli employed. Amount of capital Inverted. Annul wage*. Vain* of material* nwd during 7*ar. Value of annual product. 1850... 864 J".'.'.7 $12.935,676 $5,047,030 $18,186,708 $22,117,688 I860 1,191 82,490 24,278,295 8,760,125 19,858,515 40,711,296 18TO... 1.850 49.417 60.557.822 19,854,256 78,154,109 111.418,854 Of the hands employed in 1870, 28,804 were males above 16, 14,752 females above 15, and 5,861 youth. The motive power was furnished by 402 steam engines of 23,546 horse power, and 456 water wheels of 18,481 horse power. In that year, though 32d among the states in population, Rhode Island was 10th in the value of manufactures. In proportion to population it ranked first, averaging $512 61 of manu- factured products to each inhabitant. The following table gives the statistics for 1870 of the leading branches, together with the rank of Rhode Island and the states that sur- pass it in value of products in each branch : INDUSTRIES. Ert.bll.h- m.nu. Hands. Capital. Vain* of material i. Vain* of product!. Rank. State* superior la value of product*. Cotton goods 140 16,872 fl- vj;?:>rMi $18,286,815 $22,072,208 2 Mass. Woollen poods 65 f, :fiM 8,167.600 8.089.948 12,668,117 5 Mass., Pa., Conn., N. T. Worsted goods 11 1581 _'.:;. MI. u "i 1,786.210 2,885.950 8 Mass., Pa. All textiles* 219 25054 30 :;.VJ MIO 28,280,096 87,907,670 8 Mass., Pa. Printing cotton and woollen 9 2,996 6770000 14 604 962 17 842,480 1 Bleaching and dyeing 18 790 1 474000 18,842.0-26 15.188.728 2 Mass. Cotton and woollen machinery Jewelry 70 71 8,087 1 679 8.5S8.060 1 0> 1"" 1,412,715 1 858881 4,816.876 8,048,846 2 8 Mass. N. Y., N. J. Plated ware . 880 564900 1 212,240 2 Conn. Screws 2 972 7.0-1 Mil III 718465 1 882 81 8 1 India-rubber and elastic goods 2 845 408,000 901,058 1,804,868 6 Conn., Mass., N. Y., N. J.
 * 684,700
 * Including cotton, woollen, worsted, and linen goods.