davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
About Copper Prices.

There is much speculat ton in the
press as to the probable future price
of copper. 1t is only recently that the
metal has reached its present figures,
and naturally enough both producers
and consumers feel some concern as to
what it will be in the months and years
TO Immediately come.
This will depend upon three elements:
First the supply; second, the demand
that is the extent Of the uses to which
copper is now put; and third, how far
some other metal may be substituted
in those uses wherein copper is now
almost exclusively employed. These all
involve very much of uncertainty. AS
frequently noted both in the Standard
and elsewhere, many new copper
finds" are being reported. but even
where they possess real value it will
take considerable length of time for
them to be developed sufficiently to
materially affect the market. For two
or three years, probably, they may be
left out of account with reference to
copper prices. For some time to come
the relative output will depend upon
the great mines. In these there is no
reason to look for very marked changes,
although if the ore bodies last as they
doubtless will, the changes should be in
the line of increase rather than dimn-
ution.
Aluminium is the only metal that
is being seriously considered as
substitute. Neither the pro-
duction nor the use of this metal can
be fairly said to have passed beyond
the stage of experiment. and nothing
has yet transpired to indicate that it is
likely to become serious competitor.
1t is clear, however. that the arts and
industries in which copper is now be-
ing so largely used, are destined to eX-
pand almost Indefinitely In fact they
are scarcely, as yet, beyond the infancy
of their development. Therefore it may
be safely assumed that there is nothing
in the conditions of supply, demand and
prospective substitutions that are like
ly to lower the price. Looking at these
conditions only an upward movement
seems more probable.
But the fact must never be lost sight
of that the price Of copper. like that of
everything else. depends upon general
monetary conditions. Money is the
thing in which all prices are register
ed, and the law of supply and demand
applies to money the same as to copper
or any other commodity. This is the
element of the greatest uncertainty,
for as the situation now stands, it is
impossible to forsee the monetary sit
uation as it will be a year or two hence.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
The Ontario Drain Tunnel.

From the Salt Lake Tribune.
Local gossips say the Ontario tunnel
has now punched hole into the Days
domains, and that when the vein is
reached 1t will be at a depth of loo feet.
Between this point and the maximum
depth of the old workings there are more
than 100 feet. All this is in virgin ground
that in view Of the disclosures in the
Ontario at l.5OO. should be as productive
as that above. James Quinn, the gentle
man who intelligently served the COM
pany for many years as foreman. is now
picking over old ore bodies under lease
The extension of the tunnel is the thing
on which the friends of the old bonanza
are relying for tonic, however, and that
it will be pushed is the popular belief
Into the DAILY ground. then what? It
can't very well make permanent tcrmi-
nal there. pipes the gossip. 1t has al
ready reached 49, miles at Daily,
and why not on to the DalyWest? In
that ground the ore understanding that
1t is continuous-woud be encountered on
a plane 1900 feet below thes surface. A
little more drilling, a few more volleys
and at four and quarter miles from the
mouth of the great avenue it will have
reached the riches of the Anchor. These
sidered. said the gossip yesterday. and
that they will be undertaken is not at all
unlikely. 1t implies the expenditure of
great fortunes, of course, but so does
the pumping of water and the transport
tation of ores over steep and angular
pathways to the railroad.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

mica are discovered usually after ex-
ceptionally heavy rains, and these are
marked off for mining as soon as the
dry season begins. Books of mica are
hrst split into plates about one-eighth
inch thick. the mica being easily split
into laminae of any thickness. The
trimmers are provided with sharp
sickles. and the point of the knife is
used for opening the sheet. Imperfect
laminae are now peeled off the plates
till both surfaces show a clean, even
face. After trimming, the plates are
sorted for the European market. the
United Kingdom and America being the
chief buyers. The best quality is ruby
mica. which is much used for the doors
of glass and steel furnaces where ex-
treme heat is required
Mica is not affected by the heat, and
thus enables the workmen to look into
the furnace and watch the crucibles of
molten matter. Thin sheets are made
into chimneys for incandescent gas
burners; also for fire screens and for
electrical purposes, as mica is an eX-
treme,y bad conductor of electricity
A method of cementing sheets of mica
into cardboard has been recently pat
ented in Germany, and this cardboard
is used for coating boilers, mica being a
non conductor of heat. 1t is also man
ufactured into helmets for fire brigade
men. packing for fireproof rooms, etc.
Thinner sheets are made into envelopes
for v"apping valuable documents.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

likening the surface indications of some
was first discovered. and the expression
of an opinion, at least by implication,
that the new district will equal the
worlds greatest mining camp" The
absurdity of such a comparison at once
appears when we remember that the
enormous copper deposits that have
made Butte the marvel of the world
were not indicated upon the surface at
all. 1t becomes still more apparent
when we consider the almost countless
districts, with exceedingly rich surface
indications. that were speedily exhaust
ed. and have been long since aban-
doned.
Doubtless there are large numbers of
good districts now being prospected.
and in which capital might be iudicious-
ly invested. But comparisons with
Butte. based upon few surface
scratchings, will add not a dollar to
their value. There is nothing of jeal-
ousy in the attitude of Butte. The reo-
pie of that district can afford to he gem
efouS, ana they are. They will rejoice
in any degrees of prosperity that may
come to other districts. Some of these
may yet equal Butte. The Standard
certainly hopes so; but at the same
time there is no point in comparing a
few scattering prospect holes with a
mining district, the development of
which has required the la Dor of thou
sands of men for a score and half of
years, besides the expenditure of nun
dreds of millions in money, and which
to date stands without a parallel in the
worlds mining history. Stories that
are too big have boom sound, and in
stead of attracting capital arouse its
suspicious and keep it away. PLAIN,
simple statements of average conditions
are by far the best
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
Extravagant Mining Reports.

That very excellent journal. the Min
ing and Scientific Press of San Fran
cisco, pertinently remarks that almost
any mine of value can show specimens
which run into the thousands and in
districts producing free milling gold
ores, specimens may assay hundreds
of thousands, but few of them ever
produce a ton of this particular kind"
This statement is a very suggestive
one, bearing, as it does, directly upon
the exaggerated reports of rich finds
that are so greatly in vogue at this
time. Reports from new districts and
from old ones now being revived, lit
orally team with statements of ores be-
ing found which run away up into the
thousands of dollars to the ton. Ere
quently these statements are made with
such breadth and lack of qualification
as to convey the idea that the ore is as
abundant as it is rich, when in fact the
entire find" of very high assay may
not exceed a pound or two. Such re-
ports are misleading and do a mining
district more harm than good.
The real wealth of any district de-
ponds upon two factors. First, the ex-
tent of its mineral deposits, and, Sec
ond, their average workable value. I'm
less there are very considerable quaint
ities of rich ore actually in sight, it is
scarcely worth while to mention the
exceptionally high assays al all, for they
throw very little or no light upon he
character of either of the particular
mine or of the district in general.
Another common form of report in
this northwestern country is that of
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

Should the Beers carry out their al
legged threat and. in case of war with
England, wreck the gold mines of the
Transvaal, it would be most unfor-
tunate, and give a deplorable aspect to
the conflict. OF course the gold deposits
could not be wiped out. The buildings,
machinery and all of the improvements.
though, could be destroyed, and untold
damage inflicted upon thousands Of in
nocent people, and all to no effect. Such
an action could not possibly change the
result of struggle with England, or
even postpone the inevitable.
The devastation of Russia at the time
of the Napoleonic invasion was entire
ly different in its nature. BY that act
the Russians destroyed property and
food supplies that would have served
to feed and shelter the invaders, and
without which Napoleons campaign
was certain to fail
The cutting of the dykes of Holland
during the Spanish war was similar in
and designed for the same purpose,
namely, to impede the invader. There
have also been many cases in which
wide stretches of country have been
laid waste by hostile army for the
purpose of weakening the defensive
power of an enemy. Such was the ac-
ton of Sheridan in the Shenandoah val
ley, and of Sherman in his march rlom
Atlanta to the sea.
But these cases all had a direct hear
ing upon the results of the fighting then
in progress, and were totally dissimilar
in principle from the proposed action in
the TransVaal The mines of that cOun-
try would be no aid whatever to the
English in a campaign. They could not
eat the gold. or find shelter in the
shafts and levels of the mines. Even
the hosting works and mills would not
be available to any appreciable extent
as comfort or convenience to an army
The wrecking of the mines would be
simply an act of spite intended to di-
minish the value of territory which
the British might acquire, and tnde-
feasible upon the principles that govern
in modern warfare.
1t is to be earnestly hoped that all
differences in South Africa may be
peacefully settled, but that in any
event, the Beers will not attempt to
carry out the threat ascribed to them.
Not only would it do incalcuable harm
to the owners, while wholly ineffective
as war measure, but the entire COM
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

The reports Of Frightening prospects
at Park City, Utah, are more than
usually encouraging because of the
vast amount of development work that
has been done in that district. Its prin-
cipal mines are the Ontario, the Silver
King, the DAILY West, the Anchor the
Apex, the Naleo and the Daily Lease.
These mines are and have been large
producers. They have shafts sunk to
great depths and exploration drifts and
tunnels of vast extent. The Ontario.
as is well known, has been one of the
greatest silver mines ever opened. and
only closed, practically, when silver
dropped away below sixty cents. When
word comes from such mines that they
are increasing their force and enlarS-
ing their output it means something
because their managers are not working
in the dark. but thoroughly understand
the situation. Park City has been one
of the country's really great mining
towns, and it may very easily again
assume commanding position.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

The action of the East Indian cur
rency commission in recommending
that the minis of India remain closed
to silver has had no effect in depress-
ing its price. Producers and dealers
expected nothing from the commission,
and the market has ranged precisely
the same as If the commission had
never been created. The report simply
leaves the status of the metal as it has
been since the minis of that country
were closed to it in 1893. India has been
taking considerable quantities of silver
right along. But the mint has not been
open to the coinage of all that might
be presented, as it was before. Hence
the depression of the market. The
limitation of the coinage left larger
surplus, which necessarily meant a
lower price.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

The gold fields of Eastern Oregon are
attracting considerable attention these
days. At Baker City, at Sumpter, a
few miles distant therefrom, and in
various other districts great activity
prevails. Reports seem to Indicate that
Sumpter is the coming camp of that
section. Perhaps the best evidence of
this is the fact that the Baker City Re-
publican seems to concede that the lat
ter place is likely to be overshadowed
by Sumpter. Eastern Oregon is doubt
less rich in mineral, but for some rea-
son that region has not been so promi-
nent as others, and has not attracted
capital to the same extent OF late it
has been the theater of decided stir
and it is to be hoped that there is a
good foundation for it.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

The indications are that with the
smelters in full blast Leadville will be
scene of unusual activity for some
time to come. 1t is estimated that the
output will be not less than 5000 tons
day. There are three local smelters,
the Arkansas Valley, the Bimetallic and
the Union, with a total capacity of
1000 tons daily. The Pueblo smelter of
Guggenheim's may be able to take 300
tons more. Leadville is one of the
worlds great mining districts. It's out
put has been enormous and there are
no signs of the district giving out. On
the contrary, of late the conditions
have been steadily improving.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

AS was to be expected, the ending of
the smelters' strike has united things
all over Colorado. At Creole and many
other places the pressure was very Sc
we're. Bins were full to overlooking
with ore, and many mines were obliged
to either shut down entirely or greatly
diminish their output for want of stor-
age room and uncertainty as to the fu-
ture. Very naturally when the en-
barge was removed business would
hum for a while, rising considera bly,
above the normal. Fortunately. though,
there are elements of real substantial
improvement all over Colorado aside
from any question connected with the
breaking of the deadlock. 1t is to be
earnestly hoped that the smelter COM
panies will show a generous spirit in
dealing with their former employees, and
that a large measure of prosperity nay
inure to both.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

In another part of this issue appears
an article embodying a table showing
the worlds production of copper by
years from 1894 to 1898, both years in
elusive. 1t is taken from the Mining
and Engineering Journal and is prob
ably as nearly correct as anything at
tainable. The product of each country
is given separately, which adds very
much to the interest and value of the
statement. 1t is especially noteworthy
that of the grand total the United
States provides fifty-five per cent,
while all the rest of the world only
turns out forty-five. OF course, it
is merely speculative. but at the same
time it is interesting and pleasing to
observe that the compiler anticipa ties
an increase during the current year
both in consumption and production
The future range of the price must
necessarily be altogether conjectural.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
LATE MINING DECISIONS.
Some Important Questions Determined
by AppeIIate Courts.

Right to cancel does not relieve from
past due rents.-An oil lease provided
that the lessees should begin a well
within one month. failing which to pay
81 per day until commenced or surren-
der the lease; lessees to have the right
lat any time to surrender the lease.
and be released from all moneys due
and conditions unfulilled then, and
from that date the lease to be void,
and the payment made to'be the full
stipulated damages for non-fulfillment."
The court held that the lessees did not
have the right to cancel back debts by
surrendering the lease: that the pro-
vision referred to future obligations.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
STOCK MARKET STAGNANT
Local Trading Far From Brisk, With
Small ,Fluctuations-Heavy De.
cline in the Export OF
Copper.
THE MARKETS RANGE,
ledo SO@4.0

The production of copper in the United
States during July aggregated 21,333
long tons. as compared with 22,OlO tons
during June and 1862 tons during July,
1898. From Jan. / to July 81 production
aggregated 1880 tons, as compared with
1853 tons for the corresponding period
last year and 124OO5 tons in 1897
European production of copper during
July aggregated 1880 tons, as compared
with 1905 tons in June and with 6,794 tons
in July 1898. Production from Jan. l to
July 81 aggregated 4s,O19 tons. as COM
pared with 1854 tons for the correspond
ing period last year and with $3.50 tons
in 1897.
Exports of copper from this country
during July aggregated 7,160 tons, as
compared with 10.OO2 tons the previous
month and 1854 tons for the correspond
ing period last year. Exports of copper
since Jan. have aggregated $3.50 tons,
as compared with S363S tons for the cor
responding period in 1898, and with 1858
tons in 1897.
Trading on this end of the line in min
ing stocks is not heavy enough to justi-
fly the statement that it is brisk. In fact.
there is evidently something up the
sleeve, which the local traders would like
to see crawl down into naturalization.
They are waiting for the promised boom
and the return of Eastern manipulators
from the summer haunts Of respite. Last
weeks quotations, which mark small
changes from the former week, are as
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
Mica Mining in India.

From the Trade Journals Review
1t is only within recent years that
Europeans, have taken up the mica in
dustry. Mining is still conducted on
purely native methods, for in none of
the mica districts is machinery of any
kind used. A Mervyn Smith says. in
a paper read before the Institution of
Mining and Metallurgy, that the same
wasteful. slow and laborious system
practiced by the natives for hundreds
of years is s.ill in vogue. Tufts of
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, was
a person of resource. Whenever she hired
a new girl she took the latter at ance to
the nursery and showed her the Gracchi.
saying: "These are my jewels!' In this
way she avoided the embarrassment of
having the hired girl all the time borrow
ing her jewels to wear at social functions.
Detroit journal.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22
IN THE VESTS MINERAL REALM
News About Mining in Montana and
the Northwest.

Tuesday
is
will
Northwest the
public
conditions
making the Standard the
hitherto had representation
Communications intended for the the Standard will
These solicited
Montana
muncations the Standard will
this departm
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

mercial world would be made to suffer
severely from the stoppage. for a con-
siderable time, of the supply of gold
from the South African fields.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

Opening quotations not given in the re
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-04

be thrown into this business crucibie
and come out unaltered. 1t must lose
on the reflective side. Speculative the
oiogy has little chance with a man who
has six committee meetings in the af-
ternoon and three night schools 20
visit. We need look for no Thomas
Aquinases to be developed in the stir
Of the institutional church Theolog-
zeal giants will become more excep-
tional than ever, if the Peoples taber-
nacles grind on with their thousand
wheels. Then, too, the distinctive note
of the true preacher will tend to be lost,
we should say, in the rattle of machin-
cry. The old bishop who was asked by
a young clergyman how many sermons
a week he ought to be able to preach,
replied, One certainly; two, if you
have plenty of time; but any fool can
preach three The sermons of a man
whose time throughout the week is
devoured by the complex business of
an Institutional Church are too apt to
be of the kind which any fool can
preach.
''The ultimate remedy, we imagine,
will be found in a further specialization
of the work of the clergy. Some must
give their time to serving tables; 9TH
ers, with the gift for it, must be the
writer's, the theologianS, the preach
ers"
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-04
THE ENGINEERS.
Argument for the Proposed ''Persor
nel'' Act.

Argument for the Proposed Person
nel' Act
Engineering News argues in be-
half of the Navy Personnel Bill, and
says: ''The successful conduct of our
late war by the naval arm of the SER
vice is largely due to the thorough
training of our naval officers, and their
methods and their success have wrung
praise from unwilling naval authorl-
ties. But the handling of the engines
of the Oregon, in her unprecedented
sea voyage, and the serving of the guns
at Manila and Santiago, were alike the
work of engineers, and the results
reached were alike due to mechanical
means; under these conditions there
seems to be no good reason why any
distinction should be made in pay or
position between the officers who did
the one piece of engineering work and
those who did the other. The evolu-
ton in naval warfare has made engI-
neering knowledge the essential, all
important requisite in the naval officer
Every warship must now have its prac-
teal mechanics. electricians and train
ed assistants of all kinds, and men Of
this class now form the bulk of the
crew. But just as the old naval COM
mander was a sailor in command of
sailors, it now requires an engineer OF
high degree of training to properly
direct his mechanical assistants and to
handle a ship in which practically ev-
cry movement is controlled by intri-
cate mechanism
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-04
w. J. QUINN.
Re0| ES|0|e AQe|I
40 Montgomery ST.
BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND SAC.
RAMENTO STREETS,
San Francisco, California.
San Francisco, California.

Twenty years OF successful exDoR.
fence as a Real Estate Agent enables
me to state that / have done well To-
investors, when they followed my adr
vice.
The attention OF those having money
to invest is called to the fact that thens
are great opportunities to make spla1s
did investments in San Francisco Rel
Estate at the present time. The co.,
dition OF realty at present favors the
buyer. This is the time to invest Whe1
properties can be purchased at Low
prices.
San Francisco has great future; N
unite on this point. 1t is to be tie
great city OF the Pacific Coast and tie
man who buys now will make himssl1
rich.
offer my experience and knowledge
OF values OF property to those who de-
sire to purchase business properties
for income. or improved lots or block
for investment. Information cheer.
fully given in reference to all matters
pertaining to Real Estate in San Fran
| cisco. 1 will be happy to correspond
| in relation thereto.
Sometimes estates are divided, a11
| the property has to be sold: In THU
way fine purchases can be made. TIE
| undersigned possesses information a
| all such sales and can advise buyers
as to values.
Money invested on Real Estate -
curity for those who desire to Ion
| their money.
| Full charge taken OF properties an
taxes paid for absent owners.
w. j. QUINN,
Real Estate Agent, 418 MontgomegQ
St., San Francisco.