The Iola register., 1891-04-24
LEAD AND ZINC.
An Industry Which is Growing Rapidly
In Kansas-The Output Last Year
Was Very Lafge-Southern
Kansas to be the Great
Wealth Producing

Kansas to be the Great
Wealth Producing
District.
Topeka Capital: State Mine Inspector
Stewart Yesterday issued a report on
the lead and zinc product of the state.
In his report he says:
The showing in the total number OF
pounds, and in mouey value, is some
thing less thau the output for the two
years previous. Up to October, 1888,
the price of lead has been maintained
by the efforts of the Corwith syndicate
to corner the lead market, but on the
failure CT this concern lead went down
to so low price, owing to the importa-
tion OF foreign ore, that the further
mining OF lead ore was almost wholly
abandoned until June and July, 1890.
when the price advanced by the pros
pect of the cessation of the Importation
ots ore. In August and September of
1890 lead reached the highest price
known for four years. The lead mines
we're then reope1sd and the yield ip-
creased rapidly. The position Of speI>
ter, the product of zinc ore, is n
strongest OF almost any of the metals in
this country; foreign mines having
weakened, prices advanced rapidly. Our
markel, following it, reached to g.!
cents per pound in New York in Decem-
Der, 1890. Zinc ore at present is subject
to the demands CT the smelters. the pro-
duction being much in exec IS Of the
smelling capacity. Satisfactory prices
for ore must wait until the smel ing ca
pacity is sufficiently increased to handle
all the ore produced. During the last
three months of 1890, nearly 1900 tons
Of this ore has been sold partly from
this district, and shipped abroad to he
smelted at the works in Europe. Ar
rangements are now being made for ex-
tensive smelling plants in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of the mines,
Value OF zinc ores. ............ 500. .352
Value OF lead ores. .433, so
Total value of out put of 1890. 1888, s62
Average value of lead ore, per thous-
and pounds, S2i.
Average value of zinc ore, per ton,
$50.
The year 1890 has been paradoxical
1t has been both the worst and the best
year for ore production in the history of
Galena. On account of low price OF
both lead and zinc ore until the close of
the year, many of the large companies.
particularly the Southside Mining and
Manufacturing company, shut off their
production as much as possible. Had
this company been running to its full
capacity it would have increased the
total output of the Kansas mines at
least One-third. The cause of this is
the development of new terri
tory, there being more than
three times the area developed at
the close of the year than there was at
the beginning. The gradual increase
in the consumation of both ores, par
ticularly the zinc, has caused a CORES
ponding increase in the demand and
the outlook for 1891 shows a continued
increase in the consumption and de-
mand for both these ores. On this ac-
count the prices of ores are cOnsidera-
bly, higher at the close than at the he
ginning of the year, and the indica 10 :
are that the output of lead and zinc or s
from the Galena and Empire City dis-
trict of 1890 will be doubled in 1891
These zinc and lead mines are pro
nOnEced the most valuable in the coun-
try and Galena is recognized in all the
markets of the world as one of the lar
gest producers of the lead and zinc ores.
Turning out annually as it does. ore of
the value of almost a million dollars, it
must be an industry of no small import
anCe to the state.
Because of its being a comparatively
new industry in Kansas. and having
apparently so small an area. it has been
somewhat neglected by the state, and
has not received the attention that it
should. AS an ore-producing district,
it is a large one, there being several
thousand acres of Ore-bearing lands al
ready developed with every indication
that the developments cave only begun.
Southeast Kansas will be the greatest
wealth-producing district in the state.
and being surrounded rs it is by extens-
i've coal fields, its ores will. no doubt. in
the near future, be reduced in the dis
trict where they are produced, and made
ready for the consumer before they are
shipped from the mines.