Bisbee daily review., 1907-10-24
METAL OUTPUT cURTA!lMENT.

As indicated in our last issue, She majority of the important copper pro ducers of the country have adopted the curtailment of production policy, with the result that the output has been reduced on the basis of 25,O00, 900 pounds monthly. The greatest reduc- ton is in the Butte camp, where the production has been. cut down con siderably more than 50 per cent; the Butte mines for September made a greater decrease than anticipated, the output being estimated at under 12,- 100000 pounds, as compared with 24,- 500,OO0 pounds for August and with 90,000,000 pounds for the normal monthly yield; on the basis of this es- timate and at the present rate of re trenchment on the part of the Amalga- mated and other large companies, it is figured that Butte's output for oc- tober will fall below s,0O0,0Oo pounds
 this, of course, with the present un- settled condition of the market pre- vailing. The Lake Superior mines, with the exception of two, show re- duced output for September, and Oc- tober will show more marked falling on in production, unless current re- ports are wrong; for, it appears that the majority of the companies are planning on drastic retrenchment policy, which may begin this week, if it has not already been started.
 The Arizona companies, with the ex- ception of the Old Dominion at Globe and the Detroit company at Morenci. have become parties to the output cur tailment, as has the Greene-Cananea company in Mexico. Utah has joined the movement, several mines in the Bingham camp having suspended ope- rations during the past week and the majority of the companies making a decreased output, by reason of lack of fuel and adequate transportation facilities. The American Smelling and Refining company. which controls about a 10000. .ooO-pound monthly pro duction, is not likely to actively join in the curtailment movement, howev- CT, inasmuch as it is under contract to receive and pay for the ores. wheth- CT they are smelted or not. The cur tailment of the production at the rate of 25,0OO.O0O pounds monthly will sure Iy tend to early establish an under standing between producer and con sumer, as the 200 O,OOO-pound un- consumed stock will not last long. once the consumers enter the mar ket with buying, instead of bluffing. intentions. With the price of the met al hanging around 14A cents and IS cents and the present curtailment poli- cy in force but a little while. it is the opinion of both producers and sellers that the consumers will shortly buy. in fact, 1t Is reported that sew eral large consumers have already bought. or negotiated at IS cents; al- so, that an actual sale at O. about IS cefts has been made for export to China: China is an important consum- CT of the metal. purchasing regularly oo.00o0co pounds annually. the bulk of which has always heretofore been purchased in Japan and Austria The copper situation is, therefore. showing some improvement There is little fear among operators that the price will fall below IS cents: quite the con trary. it is thought. that there may be an early upward price of all grades.
 During the past ten days there has been an improvement in the speiter market at New York and St Louis and It would appear that the months cur