The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-04-20

The metal mining industries of the
United States in 1906 shared fully in. the
general activity and prosperity of the
country; at the same time doing much
to help in promoting that prosperity.
Strong demand and consequent high
prices for all the metals OF construction
stimulated activity in mining and In the
opening of new districts to a degree I'M
known In almost any previous year.
At different times there have been dis
cussion as to normal prices of metals.
The best definition. given by a high au-
thority. is that the normal price is that
which returns sufficient profit to the
producers to insure a reasonable in
crease in production. and at the same
time encourage prospecting and explora-
ton for new mines. Accepting his as
correct. the prices for most of the
metals in 1906 were away above the
normal point. Profits TO producers
were large. Notwithstanding the general
increase in cos of mining. due to
higher prices for machinery and sup
plies and higher wages for labor. Pros
pecting and discovery were certainly
promoted, for we have not In many
years seen so many new districts
opened. nor so many Developments be-
gun on new mines. The remarkable
point is that the high prices do not seem
In any way to have checked consump-
tion. The users OF metals have de-
manded them at any price. seemingly
regarding the cost as a minor matter.
IL only they could get the supplies they
needed.
A contributing cause to the prosper
ify of the mining industry Is one which
has been In operation steadily for sew
eral years. hat is the constant i'm
provement In mining methods, and espe-
cfally In metallurgy and the beneficial
ton OF ores. Improved machinery and
more systematic methods of mining and
handling are everywhere in use. Ores
are treated in various ways, smelted or
otherwise reduced to metal at lower
cost and with closer extraction Of their
metallic contents. 1t is true that In the
last few years there has beer no such
striking change as that brought about
by the practical application of the
cyanide process to the extraction of
gold some years ago; but there has been
constant progress on various lines.
which reaches an important aggregate.
Evidence Of this is found In the reopen
ing of old mines. abandoned years ago
as Improbable. but now worked with
success; and in extensive operation
OF low grade deposits, formerly re-
garded as too poor for profit, but now
making excellent returns.
These causes have contributed more
largely to the increased production OF
metals in the past two years than the
discovery of new ore deposits. Indeed.
some of the loudly-heralded discoveries
are not new at all. except in the sense
that, as above stated, 1t has been found
that they are worth working under pres
ent conditions where formerly they were
too poor. A striking instance
OF this is found In the great low-grade
copper deposits of central Nevada,
which are now being opened for working
on a gigantic scale. Ten-perhaps even
hve-years ago these were not consid-
cred at all. The examples set by the
CRANKY mine, in British Columbia, the
Tennessee, in the Ducktown district. in
Tennessee. and others showed what
could be done. and resulted in the in
stallation of great mining and smelling
iahAo III % iS6iou DtItlOlOTt lnDuBnI TO
be barren. Another striking instance is
found in the rapid extension OF gold
dredging in California. The cheap
handling OF great quantities OF material
by the dredge and the steam shovel has
made 1t possible to earn profits from
placer gravels of so low a tenor in gold
that former methods would have left a
large deficit on their working. Such in
stances could be multiplied, but there
are enough here.
A tendency which has been marked
during the past year has been tina to-
ward the consolidation of mining inter-
ests. This is in line with financial ex-
perience in other lines. 1t is not a new
thing. but 1906 has seen more of it than
any previous year. Few people not d.
rectly interested realize how far 1t has
gone. Thus our lead and silver output
is practically under the control of a
single interest, the few independent pro-
ducers being too weak to make any eff
fective opposition, and therefore willing
to work with rather than against the
trust. And in this case the single in
terest controls not only the production.
but. in large part, the manufacture of
the metal in it's various forms.
Great progress has been made toward
the consolidation of the copper mining
industry. In this there are still many
independents strong enough to stand for
themselves, and to fight. If necessary;
but in no previous year has so much
progress been made in the direction of
unified control. 1t must be admitted that
this consolidation process makes for
betterment in mining and metallurgical
progress; moreover, it affords the pros