The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-21
FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR
This Country's Total Output OF
Copper During 1897.
IT'S A GRAND SHOWING
Federal officials Have Gathered All the
Facts and They Find That Pros
perity Has Prevailed in All
the Copper Camps.

~E''lAi 'oiierpoHIeuLe OF the NiduuaFu+
Washington, July 1i.-Charles Kirch-
hon has completed his report on the
production Of copper for the United
States geological survey. by the cour-
tesy uf Dr. David T Day. chief " the
division ~ mineral resources, the
Standard correspondent Is euabled TO
give an extended review Of the report
from the advance proof sheets
The report says that never before in
the history of the copper trade has
there been 81 great an addition To the
product ~ any country as that Wit
nesesd during 1895 in the United states.
the Increase over the preceding year
having been nearly s0Ooo. Oo0 pounds.
II is worth noting that this increase Is
not due 70 the appearance u one or
group u new producers but has been
the result of expansion and Of full
work Of lOng-established mines. Dur
Ing 1896. as In previous years. the
American copper industry has reaped
the advantages which flow from the
possession of a commanding position
In the worlds markets. During the
long period Of industrial and CONNER
cial stagEation which has followed the
panic of 1898 the copper mines OF the
/ United States have run steadily. The
majority 0f them have earned q good
return nn the capital invested. Many
Z have expanded steadily and particu-
| larry all of them have kept their plant
and equipment up to the highest ell
| cheney. During the time when a large
percentage Of the mining population
I throughout the country was unem-
| ployed. or suffered from long spells of
\ ideness the labor In tho different cop
/ per mining districts had work year In
and year out There may be instances
where local conditions at individual
mines forced "A curtaliment Of work or
a read justment of wages on a lower
level. but their Importance Is so insig-
niiicant that they do not affect the gen.
eral statement that since lsse labor in
| the copper mines and reduction works
Of the United States has had full EN-
ployment at full wages. Indeed. an
advance OF 10 per cent in wages was
granted by many producers In some
/ districts. an advance which was re-
tatned during the whole Of 1885.
Had the copper mining industry not
/ possessed an outlet 10 foreign markets
Is must have suffered. In common with
! other mining interests. from the sharp
restrictions In the. demand and the
savage competition which has charae-
terized the last three years In every
other branch u the metal Industries.
an sh' ,,aa,t,,. :" -, ar,sr,n.n [ cnnosr rs
tained for home consumption feli from
I "a .O00. 900 pounds In 1895 10 1ss..oovoo
| pounds In 1896, the exports expanded
from l35,500.0oo pounds In 1925 To ISL
900 In 1886. In the face OF a heavy
shrinkage In the dome site requirements
an unprecedented development IN rIc-
ductlon was possible. In no branch
OF Industry hay. the blessing of access
phatlcaIly proven. The events IN cop
her mining during the past three years
I American Industries
ts,s .rs. concerned one lmportant cir
cumstance must not be left out of
sight. our consumption has been ab-
normally low A moderate revival In
business must lead to an important
expansion. should such an increase
coincide with period OF continued
heavy demand In turope. then produce
tion capacity all over the world may
be strained To the utmost. Even re-
turn To the requirements I'm this coun-
try OF 1895. with It's brief spell OF sum-
mer activity. would drive every plant
To its utmost. SO that slackening in
Europe might prove welcome.
is probable in Montana. Arizona and in