Cochise review., 1901-02-02
Copper in 1900

Copper in 1900
 The production of copper during the year just closed was in one sense dis appointment. The output of the United States was very large, but showed only moderate increase over the total of 1899, notwithstanding the opening of new mines and the inducements for a larger production offered by the con- tinued great demand for the metal and the consequent high prices.
 Our estimate of copper production in the United States in 1900 is based upon the statistics collected by MT. John Stanton, who receives the reports of all the large producing companies. The total for the year, compared with the completed figures of The Mineral Industry for 1899. was as follows, the month of December being estimated. The figures are in pounds:
 1899. 1900. Fine copper. .571 ,S11, 194 GOA, ,SS7 ,36O Copper in by-pro-
 duct sulphate. 9,5O7,S97 11,0OO,OOO
 Total. ..591, ,319,O91 615, 1887 ,36O
 The output of the mines which re- port directly and which include all the larger mpanies-changed very little from 1899, the increase being derived entirely from the smaller mines, from new mines and from ores smelted in which the copper is subordinated to the other values.
 The three chief producing regions in this country are the Lake Superior district, Montana and Arizona. Of these, Arizona was the only district showing an increase. The large mines of that region have continued to ex- tend their production and their facili- ties. Few new producers have been added to the list. This district now turns out about one-fifth of the copper produced in the United States, and will probably gain steadily in propor- tion.
 On the other hand Montana, which produces about two-ffths of our copper, reduced it's output slightly in 1900. The complicated litigation which has vexed the mines of the Butte district for two years past is still unsettled, in fact has grown more complicated than ever Under the present management of most of the mines it is difficult to obtain liberal figures; but it is reported and generally believed that in several of the mines the tenor of the ore is not increasing with depth.
 The Lake Superior district last year about held it's own. The large mines as rule have not increased their out put, and the new mines which have been started in the last two years are not yet producers.
 Outside of these three districts Cali fornia and Utah are the more import ant copper producers, and both of them gained last year.
 The business done by our refuers in handling foreign ores and mates has steadily increased. Besides handling Mexican and Canadian copper, some for Aus ralasia now comes to this coun- try, contract having been closed early in the year by which all the blis- ter copper from the Mount Lyell mines in Tasmania now comes to the United States to be refined electrolitically. The imports last year also included some copper from Japan.
 Exports of copper during the year have been very large. Our mines have continued to furnish large part of the European supply. The total exports, estimating the month of December, were l5S, 100 long tons of fine copper, or 5S.5 per cent of our total production.
 Foreign production, like our own, has shown very little change, the larger mines about holding their own. No important new mines were opened abroad in 1900, though the year just beginning may see some important de- velopments in Mexico. In Australia also some promising mines are being developed. d.-Engineering and Mining Journal,