The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-10-07
COPPER MEN MAY
GET TOGETHER

There are signs that the big copper
mining concers have grown weary of
selling their metal at prices giving
little or no profit; that exhaust their
veins, force them to work only the
richest portions of their properties,
ad is %ninjurious to correct mining
methods and to the people who have
money invested in the capital stock
of these organizations.
Copper is one of the worlds most
useful metals. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary in the civilization and progress
of our country. 1t enteres into
thousands of channels and probably
has its greatest future in electrical
operation. It's consumption has in
creased steadily as has the produc-
ton, and the search for new mines is
now as keen as ever, new companies
being constantly formed, new mines
developed and the stock of metal bids
fair to take on huge proportions as
compared with the present output.
The market will take a big increase,
too, and it is not probable that the
production will exceed the demand
when business gets to going right.
As Iron Ore has been insisting for
some time, there is very little money
in the mining of copper in these days,
the selling price for the metal being
too low. Considering present cost,
which cannot wei be lowered, the
pound of copper should bring at least
sixteen cents. Could it be establish
ed at this, and the output regulated,
it would make a great difference in
the present condition of the industry.
There are those who do not take
kindly to combinations for the fixing
of outputs and prices, but If themetal
could be handled wisely it would be a
most healthful proceeding to both
miners and buyers. We have frequ-
entity instanced Steel in illustrating
what can be accomplished with good
Judgment. The railroads know just
what their steel is to cost them. The
price made is a fair one, and it is
maintained throughout boom periods,
when it could easily be increased. 1t
is also firmly held when business
Stacks, although exception has been
made in times when markets are in
very bad condition, as was the case
a veal ago. There has been a most
wise guidance of the affairs of this
great corporation, and it would be
just as easy to accomplish the same
thing with reference to copper.
The Steel corporation does not con-
troll a majority of the ores of the
country, or of the output of steel,
but it Yields a benificent influence
lust the same. The country cannot
get along without the tonnage it sup
plies. The, balance of the mines or
steel makers may quote lower prices,
but the output of the Steel corpora
ton must be employed to meet bust
ness demands, and there rates are
we'll established and we'll known.
There might be copper miners who
would cut prices, but a strong COM
bination would pay nj heed to this,
knowing their stocks must ais be
drawn upon, the smaller operators
being unable to supply the tonnage
needed.
1t would be fully as easy to secure
an understanding of the leading cop
per mining interests as in the o
industry Gradually the business in
working into a lesser number of con-
Germs. On the Lakes we see the Cal
umet & Hecla gathering in a num-
Der of prominent properties. Anal
gamated has been picking up mines
many years and is strong in the