Bisbee daily review., 1908-12-10
ABOUT COPPER.


 The following is from Walkers cop per letter in the Boston Commercial: Copper continues dull and prices are unchanged. Lake II 3-s to fl S4 eentss and electrolytic fl If to 141-2 cents per pound. A decline in the London price of copper has weakened the general tone of the market slight ly, put it is good opinion that this rep resents nothing more than current speculation. It is known that Ameri- can producing and consuming inter ests have been operating quite exten- siyely recently in the London market for standard copper, those who be. lieve in an advance after the first Of the year buying, and others selling. These operations have been for indi- v;dual. and not for company account. This trading has resulted in a very large increase in the volume of trans actions and if it continues it will eventually make the foreign specu- ktive market a more accurate reflec- ion of actual trade conditions and prospects than it has been for several years past.
 Domestic trade reports are decided ly encouraging The number of men employed in brass, sheet and wire mills is steadily increasing, and the man agement of several os these plants, which are now operating day shifts only, are eonsidering the adyisabiiity of running nights also.
 The copper producing industry has no occasion for fears in connection with the proposed resdjustment of the tariff by the coming session of con gress. Pig, plate, bar and ingot cop per is on the free list now Manu- factured copper goods, including all articles in which copper is a eoEnpo- aent of chief value, when imported pay duty of 45 per cent ad Salorem, Should, a. reduction in the tarin have tendency to reduce the cost to con sumers of such manufactured copper articles, it would simply tend to in-
 rease their popularity and use, and gould therefore call for larger con
 sumption. of copper abroad, resulting n heavier exports 0. raw copper.
 During the first eleven months of this year 272,s5e' tons of copper was exported. comparing with I9L151 tons in the corresponding period last year, gain of 42 per cent It is probable that domestic consumption will show falling of of about 90 per cent this year, compared with last. It will be remembered, however, that there was considerable accumulation of cop per last year. while this year. con sumption has exceeded production and the surplus has entirely disappeared.
 Two years ago copper was at the  highest price reached in a period of oxer=thirty years. Eleven months later he easntry was jE panic and cop Ter was unstable. Sinca then, with various fluctuations due partly to speculation. the price has gradually advsread, and t'is probable that the average price of lthc two gears has been between Is and 1s cents. it may be aszamed. eserefore, shaat IS to 1s cents is now the normal erice of copper, and that on this basis of prices the production of the worlds mines viii be absorbed rapidly,
 The mines sf Nosss America pro, duce more thas 70 per cent of the- worlds copper, and the average eset probably does not exceed 10 or 10 i>s cents per pound. On 1s11 cent cop per. therefore. there is sery large proat for the Aner1oan copper mines. snd this will stimulate the continued orgaaszasion Of ney nining 4eyelop- ment enterprises. North America is inc source Of the bulk Of the worlds copper supply. and sf this continent een~smes less thaa two-thiFds of i's Dsoaacilon, copper is great factor iu bsading up foreign trade balances