Arizona silver belt., 1886-12-04
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The statem5nt made in last week B BELT, that the quotation of copper which appeared in the San Francesca Chronicle for ten consecutive days, was erroneous, IS verified by late New York adyices, giving the price of Lake copper at F. cents
 Eastern mining journals, which are in position to learn the exact status of the market, express the opinion that prices are now near tho "border- land" The N, Y. Engineering and Mining Journal gives as a reason for this belief that if prices should be ad. vanced much they would probably lead to the prompt reopening of some of the Western mines, and it may be deemed expedient to keep them near their present point to prevent a step that could not fail to put them down again to an unprofitable point
 The Lake companies control the market and It Is not reasonable to suppose that they will permit the price to advance to a figure that would invite competition from Western mines,
 It may be accepted as an unques- tionable fact that copper will never return to price much above what 1t Is at the present time, and the proba- bility is strongly in favor of it's ruling lower. Every succeeding yoar new discoveries of copper are made in the United States and in other parts of the world, and the decline in prices of the metal has made necessary the Sheapening of processes for reduction and of the transportation of supplies and bullion to and from the mines, and the copper companies in this country realizing the exigsnoy of the case, are improving their plants and facilities to meet these requirements.
 Copper mining in the West is yet in its infancy, Only deposits of extraor- dinary richness have been worked and these, with the crude methods fol- lowed and their isolation from rail roads, have not been extensively de- yelopsd. Yet it is now well known that the copper deposits in the Vest ern territories, notably in Arizona and Montana, are of vast extent and rich ness. The mines at Butte and Ana 'conda, Montana, have become famous for their great production of copper winch has had a very decided Infu- ence upon the course of the market during the past few years. While their operations have been temporari- ly checked, it is evident that mines of such great value will not be allowed to remain long idle. In fact vigorous steps have been taken looking towards the resumption of work Wages have been reduced, and the companies are making extensive additions and i'm proyements to their plants, and with in a few months will doubtless be in full blast again, better prepared to meet the competition of the Lake com panies.
 In Arizona, too, revival in copper mining and greatly increased pro. ductiOn in 1887, Is assured. The rich ness and other valuable qualities pos sessed by Arizona ores are well known and our copper in Eastern markets stands next to Lake in reputation and is, in fact, equal to it in every respect. Of the Arizona mines, the Old Globe, located in this district, stands premi- nent for the value of it's ores and the ease with which they are smelted, carrying their own Aux, and being run through an ordinary water jacket furnace, producing pig copper 9s to 99 fine. The mine never looked more promising than now. Large bodies of high grade ore have been uncovered in the past few months, which strength ems the opinion that the Old Globe is one of the most valuable copper prop critics known, and with cheaper trans portaGon facilities it is destined to be- come one of the great producers of this country. The Copper Queen and Copper Prince mnes at Bisbeo, Co., chise county, and the mines at Clifton, Graham county, are next in import anee, the Clifton properties having been until recently the largest produ- cers. Their plant is an extensive and costly one. New furnaces are being erected at Bisbee. Next year will doubtless witness an increased output by copper mines in this territory.
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 Mr. Blaines refusal to accept the