The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-03-17
AMERICAN COPPER.
Conclusions Arrived at By a
Foreign Manufacturer.
Limitation Of the Copper Production
Arizona and Montana Mines
Contrasted-Ideas.

! works OF this company are located at Sim
mering, about two miles from Vienna
They are manufacturers OF locomotive fire
box plates, copper and brass boiler tubes
copper and brass wires, cartridge cases
ct cetera. They employ a large number @
men and have a daily capacity OF fort
| tons OF finished product. The compan,
| has mines in various sections of German,
and in Servia, but the bulk OF the copre
| they consume comes from North or Soutl
America. The technical part OF these works
the reduction OF the ores in Servia and al
matters Of a mechanical character, are il
the control OF Mr.. 5arnes
THE OBJECT OF HIS VISIT.
The object of his visit to America is t,
familiarize himself with the various brand
OF American copper that are now bein
largely put upon the European market, ant
to gain some knowledge OF the future OF tn
copper industry in this country. Sine
landing in New York he has visited all tn
a careful study OF the processes followed
He has visited the copper fields of Arizona
and thence came direct to Butte. Hence h,
went to the Lake Superior region, whenc,
he may go to Colorado and Texas.
THE COPPER OUTLOOK.
In response to the query as to what the
outlook for the copper industry was, in his
opinion, Mr.. Barnes said: Not at al
good, unless some means are devised to
limit the production. This could easily be
done, ifgood sense prevailed. 1t is my idea
that the people who would like to stop the
production can't and that those who could
will not. All agree that it should be done,
but concerted action seems to be out OF the
range OF possibility.
''If the product could be kept back to
tn extent OF 20 per cent. for six months,
Chill bars would 60 to ESQ. base my be-
lief upon the large increase in the consumv-
ton OF copper in this country, whicL is
something almost phenomenal. E,en il
the product were kept oOwn to tbe aggre.
gate product OF last year, in America, be-
iie1e that Chill bars would advance to EDO.
AS things now stand, and as the outlook
would Indicate, ! look to see Chill bars
lowering between f4D and f45 per ton, un-
less some unforeseen circumstance should
Occur.'
DIsCOURAGING OUTLOOK IN EUROPE.
"NNhat is the prospect of copper in
Europe?" asked The reporter.
s'There 10 no prospect of an increase in
the consumption OF copper in Europe" re-
piled MIR, Barnes, Notwithstanding the
lowness OF the price. The gradual adop-
ton by the Co,uT.inental t,T European railways
OF d r2HHo Ir,25HHoniotive boilers ~rraud copper tubes
falling off in the consumption OF copper:
The staenant condition OF the beet root
sugar trade-which is large consumer OF
leads me to look Tor II rather
less consumption than last year. The large
orders given by Southern European coun-
tries for cartridge shells, concerning which
so much has been written, are now prac-
tically filed The copper has all been
bought therefor and the orders largely
filed. Ii peace is maintained do not look
for any extraordinary consumption OF cop
Der in the manufacture OF cartridge metal.
'sThe experiments which have been max
ing by the British Government to attach
copper sheathing to iron ships by Vivian's
process have not resulted satisfactorily. so
lar AS have been able to learn. Conse-
quently do not look for any increase OF
consumption on that account
THE ARIZONA ORES.
''What is your impression OF Arizona
ores?" the reporter asked Mr.. Barnes.
II found the ores very rich" replied Mr..
Barnes; Every easily smelted, in large
quantities, making very fine grade OF
copper by a very simple method. Ii it
WASH t for the extraordinary prices charged
by the railroad companies as freight on
coke, it is my opinion that they could
make copper cheaper than anywhere else
that know OF. But with coke at $50 per
ton question whether they are doing more
than making expenses. They have an ex'
ceIlent ore, that makes copper scarcely
I al I pt fblnOS fOT
that region in the near future
THE BUTTE MINES.
"You have, Mr.. Barnes, seen something
of the camp OF Butte said the reporter
what is your estimate OF ~
.Well, comparisons would be odious
AS compared with Arizona find mining
much more difficult, the grade poorer, the
quantity much larger and the silver to
hel, out the operators. The ores require
a much more expensive and more sclentlft
process OF trea tment.'
The intelligence continued Nh Barnes
''and the activity and 'smartness' OF the
men employed in the reduction works here
have attracted my attention. Your labor
is iligher-priced here than in Arizona, but
it is better and more intelligent
THE BEssEMER PROCESS.
"Four years or more ago." continued
Mr.. Barnes, 81 experimental with the Bes
semer process now used by the Parrot
company. I have watched their process
very closely and been much Interested in it
The works are inteligenty and scientifically
conducted My opinion is that with few
trifins alterations, which will, no doubt
be made by the officers OF the company
which has shown so much intelligence and
enterprise, it is the cheapest method fol
rp1ucinD ores in this camp.
MANUFACTURERS NOT FOR CHEAP COPPER
You gentlemen said the reporter, ''art
manufacturers. OF course, you are in favor
of cheap labor"
"Not by any MEANS" promptly re
sponded Mr. Barnes. "No more erroneous
notion could prevail. We want dear cop
per. We also want a steady as we'll as a
high market. | would not like to tell you
how much money the company with which
| am connected has lost by the
decline in price. Again, when Chill bars
are at 90 cents, we can reasonably ask
or even 5 cents profit per pound OF manu-
factured goods. The former would be onl J
20 and the latter 25 per cent. on the cost
II. however, Chill bars sell at 10, and We
ask 3 cents profit, the consumer will al
once see that we are making 30 per cent
and will object. The manufacturers o.
brass and copper are as reaully sOlC dC q.
cents as at TO- if the market reports war
rant it. Cheap copper does not appear te
increase the consumption"
WHAT MOST IMPRESSED HIM.
"What most impressed you during youl
sojourn in America %
"Principally, the high price OF labor, tn
high price OF freights, the high price OF Tue
and the high grade OF the ores"
Mr.. Barnes is an Englishman, but hal
lived in Vienna a long time and becam
dearly attached to the Austrian capital
He speaks German fiuently with decided.
| "Wienerischen'' accent. He is a mos
pleasant gentleman and found Butte
| pleasant place to linger in. He looke'
| thoroughly into our resources, while here
| and for the most part enjoyed the hosp
tality OF Mr.. Raunheim, OF the Montan
| Copper Company.
1t is his opinion that the United State
will eventually control the copper marke
! of the world.
| Love and Liquor.