Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-01-30
THE RE USE OF OLD METALS

THE REUSE OF OLD METALS
 Enthusiasts concerning the mining industry indulge in rhapsodes over the superiority of mining wealth compared with agricultural wealth, in that agricultural wealth is promptly and irredeemably consumed, while mineral wealth is not so perishable. The comparison is a proper one, but it is well to consider what DOT ton of our mineral wealth is consumed, finally and completely, at the first using, and what DOT ton of it can ever return for reuse in the mar kets. It is probably safe to say that bushe of wheat will entirely disappear in the stomachs of consumers within two years after its growth The average time of such disappearance is prob ably good deal less than two years; and in that period it has ceased its usefulness and must be followed up by another bushel of wheat to keep some human being in action as wealth producing force. It is, of course, apparent that ton of steel or copper or lead will continue it's usefulness much longer, although we knowNof no statistics that shed any accurate light upon this measure of time.
 This time element is important. If one dol lars worth of wheat lasts one year as a useful factor, in that it contributes to the strength of man during that period while one dollars worth of copper contributes to the welfare of man dur ing ten years, 1t would seem that the worth of so much copper, rated at one dollar, is largely de pendent upon it's time factor. If the same amount of copper should wear out it's usefulness entirely in one year, 1t would either be worth great deal more than one dollar or nothing at all, this alternative depending upon the supply and the advantage which the metal would be to man under such circumstances. The comparison is not of any great practical value in itself, but merely forms the basis of further considera- ton. It is probably not possible to make a dol ar's worth of wheat do great deal more work in behalf of mankind than 1t now does, but it is conceivable that dollars worth of copper, or any other metal, could be made to do far more work than it does under entconditions
 This suggestion can be viewed in two ways :: First, as to the length of metals usefulness under its primary period of consumption; sec ond, as to its recovery after the first period of its use and its re-entry into consumption. Sta tistics gathered in the last two or three years by the United States Geological Survey indicate that the amount of old metal entered in con sumption is very small portion of the total consumption for each year. No doubt this is due in part to the recent development of great demand for the materials and the circumstance that these materials have entered into fixed use, which will not soon expire. It would therefore, be a fruitful subject of investigation to inquire into the character of metal consumption, with view to determining the average length of the primary period of use, the degree of metallic losses incidental to use, and the probable per centage that is distributed in such small por- tions as to be lost beyond redemption. As re- suit of such an investigation, both large and small users, more particularly the small could be educated to the importance of public economy ,y, A-J.- as this would be practicable It would also fur nish the metal producers and users with better conception of the bearing which the re-use of the metals in the future have upon the general stock The junk question is one that deserves attention.