Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-12
COPPER INDUSTRY IN
ARIZONA IS THRIVING
CAMPS IN TERRITORY DO NOT
FEEL SLUMP
A. J. Pickereli of Prescott Looks for
Continued Prosperity-Says
Employees Have Not
Suffered

A. j. Pickerell, one of the best known
copper mining men of Arizona, living
in Prescott, is among the recent ar
rivals at the Hollenbeck from the cop
per country.
Speaking of the situation among cop
per camps of Arizona last night, Mr..
Pickerell declared the curtailment of
the copper production has affected Ari-
zona's industries less than any other
section of the United States.
Contrary to expectations" said Mr..
PlckerelI, instead of laying off their
employees the big copper companies
operating in Arizona have without ex-
ception retained their full forces, and
their payrolls have not materially d.
minished. On the other hand, some are
paying out as much, If not more, money
than when copper was being produced
and sold at 26 cents. The drop to IL
cents naturally curtailed the produc-
ton, but all the big companies row are
busy 'rejuvenating' their plants, inn
proving their smelters by putting In
new furnaces and otherwise increasing
and repairing their facilities in prepar-
alton for what is expected Will be re-
sumption of operations on as large a
scale as in the past-if, indeed, not on
a larger scale.
'Bisbee, Jerome, Douglas and other
Arizona camps are enjoying wideawake
industrial activity, and 1t is anticipated
that following the presidential election
all the big shelters and mines will be
operating full blast.
"At present the men are busy at
work getting ready for the future re-
sumption; and, although the suspension
of production on a large scale has
caused more or less worry and incon-
'venience, everyone is optimistic, as the
prevailing opinion Is copper must go up
again when the present financial strin-
gency is past"
Prospects Bright
Mr.. Pickerell spoke in encouraging
terms of the prospects of Arizona mines
In general. and said gold mining was
being INDUCED in more extensively than
ever since the slump in copper.
When asked If he thought copper
would ever again go to 26 cents he re-
piled:
Hardly. That price was a little abb
normal, and the copper market-as a
result of the present lesson which has
been taught the larger producers-will
not In the future be so glutted as it was
at the time of the curtailment. think
the mean price OF. copper, when the pro-
duction begins again, will range close
to is or 16 cents.
1.-THE fact that electricity is in it's in
fancy. and the fact that at present
there is an almost worldwide plan afoot
to electricize some of the greatest
transportation and manufacturing con-
Germs in the world, are indicative of the
future demands for copper and assure
that its output will be disposed of at
fair prices.
plans now being promoted through
out the world, if only contaminated in
a small part, considered with the big
amount of copper that is to be used in
countless electric railway extensions of
America and Europe, justify the pre-
diction that within the next few
months, or Immediately after the presi-
Dental election, all the big producing
camps of Arizona will be running full
blast, as before the shutdown, and that
the copper industry, like electricity, Is
yet but comparatively developed.
81 look for quiet summer in Ari-
iona camps, but Arizona will not go
dead for many years, despite whatever
slump in copper or other metals will
vet be felt