The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-29

rannnot be accurately allocated.
Our statistics are based on reports OF
the copper content Of blister copper. eX-
cept that n comparatively small part OF
the total production, which could not be
conveniently reported in ihat way. was
reported as refined copper, allocated ac
cordine 70 tho States OF origin. This
Introduces a little disuniformity into the
statistics, but such discrepancies as there
may be on that account are immaterlal
in view OF the Incorporation Of this re-
fined copper in the total. Instead OF the
copper content Of blister, from which it
sulphate corresponding with il. has been
included in the grand total. The Mlchi-
gan production. OF course Is reported en-
tirely as refined copper
The computation OF the production OF
copper on the basis of the copper con-
tent of blister produced gives the produc-
tion in the nearest practicable way TO
Its origin, and permits a classification
among the States Of origin with a de-
gree OF accuracy that no other method
OF Collecting the statistics affords. How
ever, even on This basis II is impossible
10 make an absolutely accurate alloca-
iioa. The blister copper basis is not the
proper one upon which to reckon con-
sumption. because this copper Is several
months in transit and process OF refining
before IL is put in final marketable form.
end the time is variable. Thus in 1906
tho time OF transit was longer than or
dinarily, because of the congestion in
railway traffic during the latter portion OF
The year. Moreover, the fine copper con-
tent OF the blister copper produced does
not represent exactly what finally is de-
1ivered IN marketable form. because there
is a loss in refining. which on the grand
total OF so large an output as the Ameri-
can amounts 10 a considerable figure. We
have not made any allowance for such
loss. because il has not been done In
previous years. and It has been consid :
cred desirable to leave the statistics for
1906 in n form directly comparable with
hose for 1905.
The reasons for the changes in the pro-
ductlcn OF the various states have been
discussed in previous articles. SO that II
Is unnecessary 10 enter further into that
subject at the present time. The only
explanations that are required refer 10
the statistics for Alaska, Utnh and "other
States. Alaska did not produce so much
copper in 1906 as is credited In the above
table. but the smelters produced that
quantity OF copper from Alaska ore. a
considerable part Of which was mined in
1900, The decrease in the production OF
Utah. which Is shown in the above table.
lis statistical rather than real. Ii Is eX-
plainable by more complete distribution
of the product Of the smclters In Utah
than was made In the previous year.
These smclters receive a great deal cf
ore from other States, especially Call
received credit for less than their whole
production. while Utah received credit for
more.
AS matter OF fact the copper pro-
ductiou OF Utah increased In 1906 but
considerable portion Of its ore was not
srnelted, going into the stock of raw mate
rial OF the Garfield Smelling company
whose plant was put IN operation during
the year. Our statistics being based on
blister copper production, the copper con-
Tent Of this material was not included
Approximately the same quantity viii re-
main in stock go long as the smeltery Is
IN operation. and when the la.ter ceases
operation It's copper content will appear
in the production for that year. Cn1er
the caption OF "Other States is includ ed
the production OF Nevada. Washington
Oregon, South Dakota and Texas. to-
gother with an allowance OF 400. 00(
pounds Of copper in by-Droduct supha.e
for the reason explained above, and to-
rether with further quantities Of copper
which were actually produced, but could
not possibly be distributed according tc
the States OF origin.
The above statistics are based OH re.
ports received from every producer il
The United states, among which all dupli-
cations have been carefully eliminat led
In entering the totals for the severa
States. the nearest thousand has beer
used, In order TO have round figures il
each case.