Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13
A MODEL dTE VIEW.

Mr. Clark Hopeful of Conclusions Reached
at the Paris Conference Favorable to
the Future of the Great Copper Camp.
W.. A. Clark returned Thursday eve. from
his trip to Mexico, and having come by
way Of New York, q visit was paid him at
his Office in the course Of the evening with a
view to obtaining some information re.
gardiug the copper market. Mr.. Clark ie
looking exceedingly well, having quite re-
covered his health after his attack Of fever
in New York in the salubrious atmosphere
of the City of Mexico. Ke left his family on
their way to Southern California, where
they will spend a few weeks previous to
their return to Butte.
In reply to questions. Mr.. Clark stated
that no conclusion had yet been reached
by the conference in Paris. though he was
in expectation daily of hearing from there,
and will be informed among the earliest
when any arrangement is effected. Going
back to the catastrophe that brought
about the crash, he said that the Paris
Syndicate had hypothecated the stock
of copper held by it to the
Compton d'Escompte, the suicide oil
whose president precipitated the
crash. and, as q remedy, that concer q
had to rehypothecate all the securities to
the Bank OF France, the Bank of Paris, the
Rothschilds and Baron Hirsch who made
advances to the Compton to save it from
ruin. They hold the surplus STOCK OF cop.
price is unknown. The Barring Brothers of
London also hold q large amount hypoth-
coated them q guarantors to the Boston
and Montana. The copper is all 10 strong
hands and the stock at present may be
approximately put at 30O, geo
pounds.
As to what Messrs. Haggin, Lewisohn
and the representatives OF the principal
producers are doing at the Paris confer
ence, the progress made at the negotiations
has not been reported, but it was under
stood in New York when he was there that
holders of copper in France and England
are willing to enter into an arrangement
looking to the cessation OF exports from
this country. they agreeing on their part
not to ship any copper back to America
until they get rid of their surplus. This
would simply restrict producers 10 this
country to the local consumption which,
last year, with high prices ruling, was $780,
OoO,O 0 pounds. The amount exported
from this country raj 7S,0OO,O 900 pounds
and the total production 286, OOO, 900
pounds.
MI. Clark could see no other settlement
OF the question than this or something
similar. All the copper producers have
learned lessons of wisdom by their past
experience and they would doubtless apply
them to the present situation. In fact, the
European holders Of copper hold the key
fn tho atm ton NO r,r1oor H. -.-l---
agree to their terms they can unload upon
the market and squelch production
entirely until the surplus is worked
of. Even now copper is selling
on the London market at q price equal to
9z cents a pound. A great deal of the
copper now in Europe can be returned to
this country without duty as long as it is
in the original condition in which it was
shipped hence. Still they hold it over there
which. Mr.. Clark thought, is a hopeful sign
OF the Intentions OF the successors of the
Syndicate. They can make the producers
do what they please and it is their inter-
est to get the copper on the market at a
reasonable price. He thought it would be
the wisest policy for the American pro.
ducers to come to some agreement and re.
strict reduction for some time.
To the question OF o that would affect
the mines in this country, and particularly
in this district, Mr.. Clark replied that the
OF prices to IL cents for Montana
copper and ID cents for lake, that would
probably ensue, would undoubtedly have
the effect OF closing out many small con.
Germs, who's output separately might he
small, but which formed a considerable
item in the aggregate. The production
from outside sources would therefore he
curtailed. The reduction in price would
stimulate consumption here. Instead of
40 million pounds as last year the con-
sumption might run up to a fourth more
or 10000 900 pounds during the present
year. At this rate he thought the produc.
ton OF mines that would be able to con.
tinue at IL and 13 cents would he
to about 60 per cent. of
their output last year. There are
stocks IN this side-probably abont |
SO, 000, 900 pounds, including Lake. Ari. |
IONA bars and everything else, which il
all stored ia New York. II ia likely |
that this forms part Of the total surnIns
Of the world. There is no stock ON
hand in the country outside OF this. It is |
possible that the arrangement between tn
producers and b successors of the Syndi. |
contemplates leaving this amount in /
this country permanently, and il so it is |
not an abnormal stock. ON hand by any |
means, The cause of the present condition |
b market is already understood by |
neutrality-suspicious. stimulated by !
high prices that checked CONSUMPTION. |
only hope for all parties is a reductionI
OF production within reasonable limits un- |
til the surplus is worked down to the legiti.
mate proportions OF what the stock |