The copper era., 1906-01-18
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| creased production of upwards
 of 130,000,000 pounds for the United States, as compared with an increase of 100000 pounds in 1904, and of 57,O00, 900 pounds in 1903. The largest increase ever made in any previous year was I14 1000, ,OO0 pounds in 1904, and before that, the largest increase was approximately S0,000,- 900 in 1896. The increase for the sin gle year, as indicated by the preced- ing table, Is greater than the total production of American mines in 1883. The increase in production in 1904 was 16 per cent, and for 1905 was the same amount.
 In 1904 Arizona made the largest increase in output, both relatively and actually, gaining 44,0OO, 1000 pounds in production, equivalent to 30 per cent. According to the 1905 estimate, for which the Arizona fig ures have been made with great care and checked in a variety of ways, the increased production amounts to upwards of 63,OOO,OOO pounds, gain of B per centum. No such gain, astually or relatively, ever has been made~before by any copper field of the globe:~-Were it-not for the mar velouS uS>developments of 1905 in the Butte camp, it would be foregone conclusion that Arizona would step to first place among the producing states of America, within a very short period, and even as it is, Mon tana must look to her laurels, in the face of the fierce competition from the young giant of the southwest.
 The 1905 estimates show a sub stantial gain by Michigan, though not as much as in the preceding year. Montana has made a larger gain, though small compared with the giant stride of Arizona, while not large in pounds, is highly signifi- California shows a loss, due to the partial suspension of operations by the Mountain Copper company, which until very recently has been the only important copper producer of the state. The increased produc- tion of Alaska is but the precursor of an immense output, which will gather volume for years to come. The out put of Wyoming, though showing substantial gain, remains disappoint- ing, but it is hoped that the building of the long-delayed railroad to the Encampment district, in 1906, will permit the better utilizat tion of the undoubtedly valuable copper re- sources of the state.
 None of the western states, other than those previously mentioned, have produced copper to any impor- tant extent, despite the existence of ore deposits of promise, that doubt less will be utilized at some future date. The small production of the Tennessee Copper company, which is approximately the same as in 1904, is responsible for the lack of any inn portant increase in the output of the eastern and southern states. Eventu- ally the Tennessee company will greatly increase its output, and there are other properties of promise in the Appalachian district that should be heard from later as considerable producers.
 In the following table is given a list of the twenty-six mines of the United States that have produced ten million pounds or more of copper during 1905, with the estimated out puts for this year, and figures of actual production for the preceding year. In the great majority of cases the estimates will be found close ap- proximations of the actual figures: