The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-10
Mines Offset Wheat Shortage.


For instance. the shortage in the winter
wheat crop. as estimated by the United
States department of agriculture Will
doubtless not represent in dollars ana
cents any greater amount of money than
will probably be this countryS gain Tor
the year 1907 through the enterprising OPP
erations OF the ledge finders and mine
makers.
As noted in last weeks Journal of FL
nance. the director of the mint, George e
Roberts, estimates that the production OF
gold in the United States for 1907. owing
largely to the great Increase In the Ne
vada output. will amount this year 10
over 300 900 600 This alone is cOmpenSa-
ton financially speaking. for a shortage
Of 100000 bushels in winter wheat al
81 bushel. nor must it be overlooked
that wheat could not sell at 81 a bushel,
hut more likely at 50 cents or under. were
there not this big shortage in the crop.
Copper Makes Good for Cotton.
In corresponding way the bad luck
of the cotton planters may this year De
offset by the good luck of the copper
miners. for increased production and
higher prices for copper in 1907 may be
more than an equivalent for loss through
shortage in cotton production. The value
of copper exports from the United states
is increasing marvelously.
Prior TO 1858 exports of copper had not
even attained the 81, 100000 mark and from
that time until 1891 the exports ranged IN
value between $1,0O0O00 and S5.OOOOOO. In
1892 they gained to s.. $50 900; in 1894 to 49,
800 900; in 1897 to S31. 10000; in 1899 to $685.
10000; in 1890 TO $57 $50. 600. and last year
TO SS1. 000, coo The increased use of cleo
tricity throughout the world has been the
main factor in the phenomenal gains IN
the copper export trade.
Another huge source of wealth 10 the
United States is the steel industry, when,
during the last nine months, has made a
credit item on our side of the interna-
hoI of about Sf32 .fhal FHl.
1t is interesting TO observe from the
April statement of the bureau of status
tics at Washington that the total value
Of all our exports in April increased SlS.-
S4S. go. nearly all of which increase was
due TO exports of metal and goods man
ufactured chiefly from metals.
Mineral Wealth Endures.
The wealth that the United States gains
as a result of the enterprise and labors
of its ledge finders and mine makers IS
of a more enduring and reproducing sort
than what IL gains from large crops
Commodities like wheat and cotton must
he consumed within reasonable time or
they deteriorate and become unit for use.
TIE people of the country can eat Just
so much bread from flour and wear just
so many articles OF dress from cot ION.
and the more they eat and the more they
wear. the richer they may temporarily
think themselves.
But with the useful and precious metals
it is different. as whatever Is taken from
the ground is a kind of wealth that is
not only almost imperishable but which
can result in production of other sorts OF
wealth for years to come. The use OF
gold as a basis for money and for credits
generally: the use of steel for railroads
and other important industrial purposes
the use of copper for transmitting electrl-
cal energy and for many other wealth
producing objects are all such as to con-
finuaIly promote and provide for accu-
mutation Of national wealth.
The shortage in the wheat and cotton
crops for this year NAV five years from
now he almost a forgotten fact while the
gold. steel and copper produced this year
may five years from now have yielded
perhaps more than a hundredfold returns
by their constant use in the business and
industry of the country.