Arizona republican., 1899-04-18
AN INCREASE IN COPPER TOO
Marvellous Development In The Pio-
CeSSeS of Reducing SmeIrin9
Ores-ProfifS Realized Now on
Low Grade Ores That were Form
erIy Thrown on fhe pumps
WaICotf'S Prophecy Not Verified.

ceeded the value Of the states silver
production in 1892, the last fun year
before the repeal of the silver purchase
law. The number of ounces OF silver
nroduced in the state last year equalled
the production of 1882, though the
value of it is almost cut in two But
the total value cf precious metals, in
Gliding lead and copper, produced in
Colorado in 1898 is more than $S,OOO,-
900 in excess Of the value in 1892
These facts are the first to strike the
attention in a report just published
by the state bureau of mines, giving
statistics of mine al production in the
state fer a number of years.
They are the more striking in con-
nection with the rhetorical admonition
of the brilliant junior senator from
Colorado, Mr.. Wo.cott, in 1893, that
the repeal of the silver purchase clause
would make. Colorado as a desert sOwn
with salt. The gain added significance
from the contest now being waged by
this same junior senator for retention
of his seat as a leader opposed tc the
irreconcilable clement, which persists
in brooding over the calsinities of the
past, rather than accept hopefully the
present good auguries.
This statement of the bureau of
mines puts the states production of
geld at 1884, ,531 in 1898, compared
with $19, ,579, ,637 in 1897, and with an
estimated production for 1899, based
on the rate of increase for three
months, of s2S, ,O00 OF lead pro
duced the value in 1895 was SALT, ,O43.
compared with S2,731, ,432 in 1897, and
Of copper 81 ,3O4, 5O4 in 1898, compared
with $3.50. .917 in 1897.
The depression in silver dating from
1893 closed down many Of the ex-
clusively silver mines in the state,
which have never since been opened
again. But some silver mines are be
ing worked again because sufficient
gold ore is found in connection with
silver to exc cut a margin of profit.
The large increase in the production Of
gold has also resulted in the incidental
production of much silver found in
combination with gold ore. There has
been an astonishing reduction in the
cost of production of the precious
metals growing out of improved meth
DDS of mining, extended facilities of
transportation, cheapening of material
used in mining and thoroughness in
the working of ores, to say nothing of
the vast lessening in cost of reducing
ores, which has brought into the field
Of supply enormous quantities OF low
grade and refractory ores which were
formerly thrown aside into dump
heaps. Managers of Gre mills, smelters
and patent reduction processes, with
skilled and highly scientific assistants
and advisers, are continually sitting
over the ores and soils Of the state and
reducing the grade Cf 0re which it IS
profitable to work. A practical op-
orator of mining prop tells of an
experience of his which illustrates. He
has been in gold mining fer twenty
five years. At the outset, in order to
realize On ore which yielded $100 in
gold to the ton, he had to estimate ex-
penses amounting to $50 per ton. OF
these some SIS went foc transporta-
ton and $50 for smelling charges. Re-
Gently ore from the same mine which
had gene, to the dun9 was found to
yield at the rate Of $3.50 per ton.
Freight charges to the snelter were 81
per ton and smelling charges about So
per ton. The profit was a little over
SO per ton In this instance the cost
of mining was, of course, eliminated,
the ore having come out of the ground
with the 800 grade of ore.
All the great gold camps have now
direct railroad connection with smell
els, making possible The. cheap ship
ment of ores. Freight charges en-
ores are graded according tc. the value,
the low grade ores being carried for
the least charge. The railroads arc
quick competitors for gaining access
to any really valuable strike Ct ore
giving assurance of the DEVELOPMENT
CT thriving camp. But it is also
true that there are Gre deposits which
would be profitable to work if they
were on railroad linas, which do not
give sufficient assurance of value to
warrant the construction of a railroad
branch for that purpose alone Ona
finds instances of where the opening
even of a wagon road invites the min
ing of ore whose existence had long
been wsll determined, but which was
tco remote from transportation to be
made profitable There are other
properties which have been abandoned