The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-06
lngots and
targ
Totals Observation-Disclosures. 1s,591,9O7 2),100, ,O0(

April. .................... 4.oll,4s4 20 oOol
Totals. Observation-Disclosures. 1851, 1907 2J10o00o
The total value of our shipments of uu-
| manufactured copper for the first three
months of the year was $4,G52.574. while
for the same time last year it was but
81, ,499 730. The exports of manufactured
copper, from Jan. to April l, show like
spending months of 1880, being estimated
| at S43 1862, as against SIS, ,342.
The Engineering and Mining Journal
contains the following on the present stu
alton: "The foreign market appears to be
absorbing all we are sending. and rs this
will leave our market with light stocks. and
as the Anaconda mine will not start up until
June and possibly not until July-awaiting
the erection of a full electrolytic plant--the
outlook for copper from statistical stand
point appears to US to be very strong. and,
in the natural course of events, higher
prices NAV be expected"
When lake copper touched ID cents man.
ufacturers who have been using electrolytc
copper began to buy the American product.
The superiority of lake copper is acknowl-
edged. and only the high prices which have
ruled for the last year have prevented it's
use to the exclusion of the compound.
Whenever lake copper has been over l3
cents certain buyers have Inevitably given
the preference to the electrolytic copper.
With this increased demand and consump-
tion stocks in this country will show a
large decrease, and the exports may be ex-
pected to increase as long as quotations are
kept at the present figures. One reason
assigned for the dulness of the copper
market in this country is the quiet condi-
tion of the electric lighting business. AL
though the electric companies are doing
fair business the volume is not rs large as
was expected. The industry shows at
present indications of improvement, and,
as it is one of the largest consumers of
"copper" the effect will be to strengthen COP
per values.
The last report OF James Lewis 4 Son. of
Liverpool, contains the following favorable
announcement on the movement of Ameri
can copper abroad: ''In furnace material
some sensation has been created by the
purchase by one firm of smelters and cleo
tro depositors of 5000 tons of Anaconda
argentiferous matte for delivery at the rate
of 1000 tons per month. This has been
followed by further sale of 500 tons for
Immediate delivery. AS it will probably be
$ veral months before shipments of this
matte are resumed we anticipate great
scarcity of it, and it seems quite possible
that some of the electro depositors and sui
phate makers using it may have to close
their works.
1t is the general opinion of both manu-
facturers and mine operators that should
copper go any lower the smaller mines will
be forced to smut down, as tley DO not pos
sess the facilities for cheap production. 1t
will therefore be seen that while the larger
mines will be operated on smaller margins
of profits they will be benefited by lower
prices in being relieved of the present COM
petition from the smaller producers. AS
lower prices will also stimulate the demand
the controlling interests i'll the market may
deem 1T to their advantage to continue the
decline. Should this action be taken the
present strength rf copper values NAV be
regarded rs only temporary. AS copper
prices are made abroad tho condition of
those markets, which at present indicates
an advance rather than a decline, may pre-
vent any manipulation of values by our
mine owners.