The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-09-19

find similar results. Every where there
has been increased consumption, aud
such scarcity of supplies that spot cop
per has commanded ready premium.
There is every evidence that, as well as
here, on the continent the consumption
must still continue To increase. Electric
light and power is now demanded ev-
erywhere, and TO supply these copper Is
required. la other directions also the
use of copper is increasing, and the im-
provement in electric timing, and eonse-
quence production OF finished sheets and
tubes at reduced cost. must still fnrthur
enable engineers TO use IL instead oil other
metals. In most cases 10 has been requl-
site To use alloys TO fit copper for special
applications, but il seems likely that cleo
trio deposited copper may soon replace
most OF these alloys OF copper.
I'VE have called attention repeatedly
TO the peculiar methods of operators in
copper with the desire to enable our
readers TO form a safe judgment in the
fluctuations OF the metal exchange prices.
All we have referred TO in the early
months OF this year has been repeated
lately. American copper has been offered
and sold beneath the actual value, while
the sellers have thus, for a moment,
driven down prices here, and then bought
three months TO recoup themselves Tin
due time) on the sales at prices beneath
actual market values. For some months
past, however. IL has become evident
that powerful influences have been in the
market as well as these operators. and
il looks as il these are now almost join
ing issue. Many coDiectures have been
made in regard TO these, but so far the
new elements have worked quietly, and
been able to conceal their identity. For
ourselves we consider that they have
acted only as foreseeing men should have
done, TO acquire an adequate control OF
stocks, and protect their own interests.
with that OF the capital invested in cop
per industries. la addition they are
likely to restore to the trade some as,
sured average OF prices upon which in
dustrial contracts may be based"
Another very satisfactory statement
comes from Batch X Son, OF London and
Liverpool. who IN their report under date
of September 2, say:
The position of copper shows some
improvement during the fortnight in
sympathy with the better feeling in re-
gard TO affairs in the United States.
American copper has been offered very
freely on the declining market, both for
prompt and forward delivery, and con-
purchases have been made with
the result that offerings are now much
reduced aud apparently the bulk OF the
available supply has been disposed OF,
As the shipments have begun to fall off.
In Europe the consumption continues as
before to absorb more copper than the
producers supply, and stocks consequent
" still are reduced IN spite OF the natural
relaxation OF trade during the holiday |
season. The position as 1t stands at |
present is one demanding attention on
is own merits, apart from allspeculative |
for study OF the figures can
not fail to emphasize the fact that the |
lses of copper must have developed to a |
extent in some directions, the |
principal one being undoubtedly the |
of electric power in one
orm or another. Ii is worth noting that |
he Indian demand has been conspicuous |
)y it's absence for many months past, |
md that the home trade in the United |
states has been, and is still, checked by |
political and financial disturbances. An
in either quarter would ai-
ret our position materially, in one case
~ increasing the consumptionand in the
'ther by diminishing the supplies avail
bile for export"