The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-06
MINES AND MINING.
What an Expert Has to Say Of the Cop.
per Market. Notes at Home.

The New York Mining and Engineering
Journal has the following to say about the
copper market: "The Butte product seems
to have exercised such depressing effect on
the copper markets of the world that it
may be as well to investigate the matter a
little under present conditions, and see
whether there is any cause for the panicky
feeling prevalent.
"The output OF the camp for 1 1S84 was
about ~ 900 tons OF copper. In the sum-
mer and fall, estimates made by the best
authorities in the camp agree that the out
put for the year would be from 20, 900 to
30 900 tons; but the results fell short, ow-
ing to the stoppage OF the Liquidator and
delay in the completion OF this Anaconda
smelling works.
AT the same time, it appeared that the
product for 1885 would reach the enormous
amaunt Of sc, 900 tons, and had the mining
companies carried out their programmes, it
would hardly have fallen ST. Nrt of that
amount. The Anaconda company was ex-
pected to make "a 900 tons, and in the
been producing at thas rate. The Parrot
was producing at the rate of 5000 tons;
the Montana Company, 4, 200 tons; the
Liquidator, 5000 tons; Cark's Colusa,
about the same; the Bell and Colorado
smelters, about 5000 tons; while, for the
latter, hall of 1885, the Mountain View was
expected to be large producer.
Low prices for copper, high costs of pro-
ductlon, and other causes have, however,
changed all that. The Anaconda has re-
uuced it's output, and will probably not
make more than from 10000 to 1900
tons, the whole OF which will be required to
fillexisting contracts. The Parrot has lost
three months, and is probably good for
only 100 tons. The Montana has lost two
months already, and, for reasons elsewhere
suggested, is likely to produce less for the
rest OF the year, SO that $500 tons is
fair estimate for it. The Liquidator is still
closed, and the owners do not talk of re-
Stunning. Gark's Colusa has still some con-
tracts to fill, but is expected soon to reduce
it's output, and should not be counted at
more than 1000 tons. The Bells course
is uncertain, but 4, 200 tons for that and
the Colorado will be a fair estimate. The
owner OF the Mountain View has wisely de-
termined not to break ore in the present
state OF the market, and will content him
sell with developing his property. Allow
ing, however, 1000 tons for this and
other small producers, we have a total
estimate of 10000 tons for 1885, or only
5000 tons more than in 1884"
"Of this 80, 900 tons, more than one-half
that OF the Anaconda-is already con-
tracted for, and it's effect on prices has
been discounted over and over again.
great portion OF the Clark and Montana
companies is also sold ahead, and it's full
effect allowed for. 1t would appear, there
fore, that, as far as Butte is concerned, the
copper market has already seen it's worst
days, and an upward tendency must soon
exhibit itself.
1t is common argument that, as soon
as prices show any Improvement, the out
put will be increased and the market broken
again. This is not likely to be the case,
for two reasons. In the first place, margins
are so extremely small now that very
considerable rise must take place to induce
the investment OF much capital in new
works; and secondly, the mine-owners have
received lesson that will be very useful.
Western miners who are in the habit of
mining only for gold and silver have been
accustomed to work out their mines in the
quickest way possible Ia policy for which
much is to be said where the precious metals
are concerned); but copper, they have
found, can not be treated in this way
Copper, like iron and coal, is a strictly
commercial metal, and the world will have
no more of it than it can use Consequently,
there is reason to hope that the miners
here will henceforth adopt conservative
plan and work their mines steadily from
year to year in way to make fair profit
for long time.
AGOOD STRIKE.
The mine to the west of the "Wild Bill''
is also being worked with great expecta-
tiOns.
The Clear Grit is taking out some fine ore,
which is being shipped to the smelter.