Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-25
COPPER AND LEAD.
Views Of the Colorado Broker on the Inn
portant Subject.

Views Of the Colorado Brokers on the I'm
portant Subject. =
The latest bulletin of the firm of Jas. F
Matthews q Co., ore and bullion brokers
OF Denver, Colorado, under date oil Apri
l9, thus discuss the copper and lead situa
tion:
Copper has fairly maintained the advanc,
OF last week, but stands in a condition O
peculiar uncertainty. Operations have
practically reduced themselves to bettins
on what the syndicate will do next. The
main question is whether they will appoint
one central agent and have one fixed price,
or whether copper will be distributed
through it's previous channels SO as to keep
many people interested in the article and
create fluctuations by which they can rake
in profits. The extreme range of prices for
the week was about 80 points, from 1856
to 1856 for Spots and april and May and
1910 to 1876. The movement reached it's
climax on the 18th, and such free short
selling set in at that point as to drop prices
oil again very nearly to the point from
which they started. Manufacturers have
begun to purchase more freely and took
up during the week over one million
pounds. The sales at the Metal Ex-
change were above one million five
hundred thousand pounds. One of
the peculiar features of the present situa-
ton and which bodies no good to the
French operators is the growing tendency
to put into working shape all the various
dormant copper properties in the country.
Calumet and Heela has been opened and
will nr,tho h1u ho nrOdroi,U 81 R-u $500
before the autumn. The total exports for
the week consisted OF 500, 900 pounds
ignot and 100000 pounds matte, making
total of about 500. 900 pounds fine
The totals thus far this yea have,
been 25, 600, 600 pounds fine copper and
1000, 900 pounds of matte, making a
total between SO, 900, 900 and 80, 900, 900
pounds OF fine copper. At this rate the
will be rapidly exhausted and the
manufacturers be made to pay
very high rates.
Lead has been driven down to a very low
by the weakness of small holders com.
with an effort to depress prices. The
special point of attack is New York. where
irade has been light and where an accumu.
alton OF lead has been going on until the
Itocks now reach about 6,OO6 tons. But
he movement was very short-lived, for as
DON as the price struck 4.50 cents buyers
'egan to pour in and created a lively re-
on large sales, and prices quickly |
allied. Early in the week the price was
offering at 4.75 aud on rather light sales,
ay 200 tons; it declined in a paniey way
o ABS, and at that limit about 2,5O0l
ons were sold for delivery all
long from now until October. |
these sales absorbed all that
'as offered, and continued buying put the
rice back to Ate, with sales of nearly
,OO0 tons. Operators do not seem tol
onsider it prudent to push values any
1rther at the present moment, for Lon
on has gradually eased off from Ella to
,13 LIS Cd, which lays lead down at New
at SC, duty paid. The various lead
without exception report a
aling off in the amount consumed this
ear as compared with last, and taking
average, show a reduction of nearly 40
er cent. There is a strong movement
eing made by the smelters in Mexico,
lost OF whom are Englishmen, to prohibit
expectation OF ores, and if successful it
I'LL materially curtail supplies available
II this country. There is, however, little
reliability OF this movement being sue
sssful.