Bisbee daily review., 1905-08-29
COPPER PRODUCTION IS
 LIKELY TO DECREASE
LAST HALF WILL PROBABLY FALL
 BEHIND.
Record of Production for First Half of the Year-Hieh Prices That Have Been Prevalent Have Caused Good Deal of Straining.

A leading metal producing source says: The production of the last six months of the present year will, be- lieye be less than the production for the first six There are several req sons for this. In the first half of the year the leading copper producers be- lieved that the era of high prices was merely a temporary thing that would soon suffer a recession that would put copper back on the basis to which producers were accustomed before the Eastern war put the price up. In this everybody connected with the in dustry has been at fault. Instead of decreasing, prices have steadily aG- vanced until now the prices are the highest of the year, and from all mar ket indications it appears as if the price would remain high for the bal ance of the year.
 "In the first six months of the year, when it was at all times possible to average a little better than 15 cents for the best lake brands and others prOpOrtionately, mines in all parts of the country pushed their production to the very limit. Not only was pro duction sold in advance, but every thing resembling copper was cleaned up and put on the market, finding in all cases a ready purchaser. Partic ularly those companies whose finan- cial position was not of the best rush ed their production, by running their plants to the last pound of capacity, and also sending up portions that va ried as the necessity of their sweet ground, on the theory evidently that the copper tt contained would never be worth much more money. In most cases the results justified the action for the companies have increased their standing and their prospects by the good prices, but at the present time such companies are slowing down in their production just a little, and are conining themselves to opening up more ground.
 There are very few cases in which the mines have not allowed their stop ing reserve to run down for the sake of pushing stoping. In saying this l am not criticising, but merely show ing why believe that it is net in the industry to make as big a record for the second half of this year as was made in the first, although I fully be- lieve that there will without doubt be a larger output for the year as a whole than was shown last year. It Is said that the small companies who were not able to run on a 13-cent basis would start up and deluge the market with their product h my judgment these concerns have deluged their worst, for they have been very hard at it ever since copper touched a point where they could make a small frac- tion of cent pound, and these very companies at the present time are showing the biggest reduction in out put. IL is very much easier to say increased output than to get ready to make the same
 T know very well that very nearly every company in the country is look ing toward increased production and will secure it in time, but it will be at least two years before the full effects of any large increase. due to the pres ent bull market in the metal will be felt. There has been a normal and proper increase in the demand for the A-A-At-4S WA4ANA AAeA0 btNl hlAE III d ldl SC measure to the increase in the amount of electrical appliance that is being put to use. This demand should contin- ue to increase so long as we have good business conditions in this country, and I believe that it will keep pace with the increase that is to come in the metal. Therefore, present condi- tions seem to warrant higher prices that is, prices where all companies ex- cept those whose expenses are abnor- mally high can make a very satisfacto- " profit"