The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-06

States for the year 1897.
In :ts comments on the mineral in
dustry Of this country, the Journal
SAYS:
The development of the mineral in
dustry of the United States makes con-
stantly more clear certain facts of the
greatest possible interest to political
economists, 10 statesmen and to capt.
alists in every part of the world.
In 60 other country are coal and
iron, those solid foundations for great
industrial growth and prosperity, pro-
duced at as low a cost as in the United
States.
In no other country does labor earn
as high wages or produce as much to
the man per day. In no other country
is the labor item in the cost of produc-
ton so low as it is in the United States.
Wages are so high that economy must
, be Dracticed in their use by the adop-
ton Of labor-saving appliances. Wages
are so high that Industrious and intel
Hgent Workmen can accumulate a COM
potency or even wealth; and appreciat-
ing this fact and with this reward in
view, a sufficient number of them set
the pace IN work, which others must
fellow.
Hence thu labor cost of production in
nearly every department of industry,
using the highest-Driced labor, is less
here than in any country on the face of
the globe, and this we affirm with full
knowledge Of the facts in most depart
ments OF the mineral and mechanical
industries, and, 10 face of a popular
but altogether erroneous impression
that because our day wage rates are
higher than in Europe, we cannot COM
pete with her poorly paid labor.
The cou"try that has the
GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCES,
and in which the labor cost of produc-
ton IS lowest, is bound to become the
workshop for the world, and to supply
less favored lands with its products and
manufactures. These facts are espec-
tally commended to the thoughtful con-
sideration Of capitalists and states
men.
Continuing, the Journal gives facts
and figures as follows:
The value Of the mineral and metal
production of the United States in 1897
reached d total as given in our table
$i62, 051 106 From this, however. there
are 4 few deductions to be made for
unavoidable Implications such as coal
used in making coke iron ore in max
ing pig iron, and the like, but these
are not very large. on the other hand
the production of alum amounting TO
about $780, coo, and nickel small item.
have rot been included in h rc.-raI
table. Though the market prices of
most substances were lower than n
1856, the average prices for the year
were below those now ruling. 1t must
be remembered also that the values
given are the products in their crudest
formS-cOal as IL comes from the mine
coke from the oven. pig iron from the
furnace, copper in ingOts, lead in pigs,
etc.-and no account whatever is taken
faTa in q la foF Of To-,
and other costs expended in putting
these products into steel, plates or
other merchantable forms.
The aggregate value of the mineral
production Of the United States greatly
exceeds that OF any other country. in
fact, nearly equals the value of the out
put of all Europe. And that, notWith-
standing the fact that the United
States has been passing through a pc
riod OF uneXampled depression in bust
ness, and all Europe has had year
of almost uneXampled prosperity
Silver.-The production OF silver Of
domestic origin in the United States in
1897 was 56,117, 900 fine ounces, again~t
IS, 4SS.S10 fine ounces in 1896. In addi-
ton to this. there was production of
80, 525, 900 fine ounces from foreign ores
and bullion, against SO. 1913 529 fine
ounces in 1896. The decrease in Amer
lean production is accounted for by the
HEAVY DECLINE IN THE VALUE
OF SILVER,
which compelled a number of important
producers to close down. The falling
off IL production would undoubtedly
have been greater had il not been for
the high price of lead during 4 consid-
cradle part of the year. A very large
proportion-probabiy so per cent-of the
silver production of the United States
ic III in WIFI r1,
lead or copper IS the most important
element OF value. In both British Co
lumbia and Mexico there was an in
crease IN the production of silver: in
the former It cOrrespOnded more or less /
to the increase in the production Of ?
lead and copper; in the latter where
business is conducted on a silver basis, +
the cost of labor falls proportiOnately (
with the value OF silver, and silver min T
ing is not affected to the same extent
as in countries which are on a solid
gold basis. There was considera bic +
increase in the lead production in Mex
leo IN 1885,, and an increase in the ST.
Yer production was consequently to be
expected.
Gold--The production of gold in 1897
was 2,665.c00 fine ounces. values at $50
49S, $50 against 2.55S, 433 fine ounces,
valued at $52.SS6.2O9, in 1896. The pro-
ductiCn in the TransVaal was about
the same as il the United States, and
it viii be doubtful which country viii
hold first place until revised figures
are obtained. There was a large in
crease in the gold production Of Colo
RADIO, which has now surpassed Cali
fornia for tie first time, huC the in
crease in that state was offset b. de- 4
creases in certain others. The gold
production Of the Klondike, which was
only g, 600 0eV. notwithstanding the ex-
aggerated newspaper reports, has been
credited to Canada, ard the latter
country shows, consequently, 4 great
increase in output The most imcorc-
ant gold-producing disrric1 in the
United States was Cripple Gre elk,
which broke its best previous record
Orher important districts OF the year
were the Black Hills, South Dakota;
MERCUR, UTAH,
and the various camps OF the Mother
Lode in California.
Lead.-The production Of lead in 1897
was 1850 short tons, valued at SlS,-
93I, 34S, against 174,79 short tons, valued
at $1o,3S1 ,S43, in 1886. Besides this, !
there was a large amount of LEAF pro-
duced in the United States from for
eign ore and bullion, Il large part OF
which was exported after desilveriza-
ton The increase, which was proper