The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-09

ceding iron. In the arts, and In the sciences
and industries copper is IN essential or ID
chosen for lis merits, and brasr and bronze,
for decorative purposes, Is the furore of the
age. And yet, with all this, the product ap-
pears for the time TO have sufficiently ex-
ceedsd the demand TO crowd down the price
70 the barest minimum Of profit over cost of
production. We do not believe, without ces-
sstion Of production, this would long con-
tinue, As the copper production Of the world
has doubtless nearly II not quite reached Its
maximum, while the demand for the indus
tries, arts and sciences will continue, In.
crease and be multiplied By the fact of its
utility and reduced price.
But, In the meantime, what are producers
going to do? This 10 the question sgitating
the minds Of Montana producers, the major
ity Of whom are located In Butte. The mar
gin OF ons or one and one-half cents pound,
II their profits are limited to that, Is not sui.
ficient to justify the exhaustion of their
mines. We had believed the Montan matte
contained considerable percentage of silver
which on separation paid q large pro.
portion Of the expense, but we see no sllu-
sion made to this In the discussion Of the
question by the Butte papers. Anyhow this
silver, as well as the copper, has its own dis
tinct value, and the margin of profit on the
copper remains the same.
IL 10 intimated that there must be an ap-
probation In the price Of copper, q reduced
expense In laying the copper In market, or 6
suspension Of reduction until conditions
change. For the Immediate present there
does not seem to be much prospect of an
improved market. The Miner says there Is
shipped from Butte daily on an average $50
tons Of matte; that the U. p. Co. charges
$40 per ton for laying 1t in Omaha; that the
actual cost of transportation to the railway
company Is $3.11 per ton, and hence the
profit--exclusive Of wear and tear, interest,
etc.--to the company Is s16.s9 per ton. 1t is
suggested that in view of the fact that IS $50
tons per day at that rate yields $4,252.50
profit; that as Butte pays on an average an
additional $1,000 per day on incoming
freights, which would largely fall off if pro-
duction and shipment were suspended or
considerably decreased, that 1t would be but
fair to Butte and In the interest Of the rail.
way company to materially modify its rates.
Whether the officers Of the company will
adopt this suggestion or continue, on the As
sumption that the matte and freight will
eventually have to be transported over lie
road and that it 10 better to wait than 10 re-
duce rates, remains To be seen. 1t Is again
suggested that As the rate on matte Is now
one cent per pound, any reduction the COM
pany would make would be small compared
to the depression in the market, and that
wages could also have to be reduced to JUS
tify production. This is the general condl-
ton of affairs, aud the problem under con-
sideration by copper producers at present
and which to some extent disturbs and threat
ems the economies Of the Territory. That
depression will be but temporary appears al
together probable, but even temporary de
preston is to be deplored, and 1t Is hoped
solution Of the matter will be reach that will
enable continuous and profitable work for
ali,