Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-11-21
Wisconsin and Missouri Ore Prices.

Learning that Missouri ore (seli-
cate) was being received ut the zine
works here, we have taken occasion
to inform ourselves as TO the cost Of
such ore to the Mineral Point Zinc
company. Three carloads, received
within the past week, cost on cars in
Missouri--purchasing agents COM
mission and hauling from mines in
eluded-an average of about $s.2s
per ton. To this add the railway
freight charges, $3.50 per ton, and it
is seen that this ore costs, delivered
at the works here, $ll.5S per ton.
This, we are assured is about 80 cents
per ton less than the same company
has paid for all the ore bought this
year from the mines of Highland
and Lafayette county.
This seems to be important in at
least two respects, first, in showing
that Missouri ore is obtainable for
these works, which has been dis
puted, and second that the Mineral
Point Zinc company is not discrimi-
mating against Wisconsin miners,
which has been claimed by the
Highland Press, and which many
have been led to believe. In a third
respect this fact of Missouri ore be-
ing purchased by the Mineral Point
Zinc company, at prices no better
than are paid to Wisconsin miners,
is significant. 1t is asserted that an
organization of miners and mine
owners in Missouri has been able to
hold up the price of ores there, and
with this assertion as basis the de-
STABILITY of similar organization
here is being urged. III the Missouri
organization is effective as claimed,
why is it that ores can be bought
there at less prices than are paid by
the same company for like ores in
Wisconsin? If our miners, by COM
ter prices, is it not to be feared that
increased quantities will be pro-
cured from Missouri If a miners
organization in Missouri is unable
to prevent the Mineral Point COM
pany from buying ore there at less
prices than are paid here for like
ore, it is poor encouragement for a
similar organization here.
Accepting as correct the assump-
tion that the Mineral Point COM
pany, having monopoly Of the dry
bone trade in Wisconsin,, is paying
less than the ore is worth, there
by securing enormous and unjust
profits on the oxide manufactured,
organization such as exists in Mis-
souri, seem to offer no remedy. A
calm consideration Of the matter,
and presentation of pertinent facts
would be better service to the min
ers than unsupported assertion and
appeals to prejudice. First, we
should learn what it costs to manu-
facture oxide from the ore, and the
price that the product will command
in the market from year to year.
This definitely established, the per
cent. Of oxide obtainable from each
miners ore should be certainly de-
termined. No organization can be
effective that does not deal with
these factors, and advice from per-
sons not thoroughly informed on
these points is valueless.
1t is easy to say that pile of ore
contains 30 per cent. Of metal; that
such metal is worth 1926 per hun
dred, or $3.50 per.ton of ore; that
the cost of manufacture is $1,000 per
ton; therefore the manufacturer
paying Sll.00 per ton for the ore has
the enormous profit of $ll.50 on each
ton Of ore he buys. But suppose
that the ore assays only 30 per cent (;
that the oxide sells for $3 per hum
dred, and the cost Of manufacture is
$40 per ton. The gross return on the
product is $2l per ton of ore; deduct
$40 for cost of manufacture and 10
per cent for manufacturers profit,
and there would be left less than So
per ton to the miner for his ore. OF
course this last is a highly improba-
BILE statement of possible conditions ;
but may not the representations Of
enormous profits to the manufact-
urer in the first supposition be equal
| ~ an exaggeration?
Mineral Point Town Board.
The town board ofthe town Of Min
eral Point held q special meeting on
4 Nnx- ufb 1907 to danida at a IaxV