Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-02-20
Director of Mint Publishes Interesting Figures on
 Metal Production
GOLD INCREASE IS
 OVER FOUR MILLION
Silver Mining Suffers Dur ing Year from Current
 Lower Prices

GOlu mlnlnS III the bhlt0u S'"U00 Pi' gressed satisfactorily in 1909. The year was marked by increasing recovery from depressed conditions and by gen eral advance in the development of proved mines and districts; although there was generally increased produc- tion of the base metals, and as a con sequence an augmented gold output. From the preliminary figures of the di- rector of the mint, published last week, it is estimated that the output of gold for 1909 reached the unprecedented to- tai of $99, 9,232, 200, an estimated increase of $4,672,200 over the production for 1908. In spite of serious drawbacks, first in one mining camp, then Tn an other, the production of gold has m. creased more than $4,000,000 in each of the last two years and the outlook indi- cates. unless present abnormal condi- tions in the Black Hills should continue or curtailment be shown elsewhere, a production of over $l00,000,000 in 1910. However, so important are some of the great mines that a prolonged continual tiOn of the present labor difficulties at the Homestake mine in the Black Hills,. for example, even with conditions else where normal, might easily reduce the output to less than $95,000,000 for the current year. Although the industry has been generally progressive in 1909, the increased production has resulted chiefly from operations in six states and territories, and preliminary figures indi- cate decrease in actual production from fourteen others. It is possible, however, that later figures may shift the distribution to some degree.
 The most notable increase in produc- tion was that in Nevada, where the pre- liminary figures indicate a gain of $3,- 219,000 and where mining was active, particularly at Goldfeld and Tonopah. At Goldfield the large new mill of the Goldfeld Consolidated Mines company was steadily operated, partly on a grade of ore that had been shipped in 1907 but stored throughout 1908. Nevada generally had a prosperous year.
 The next largest increase, of $1 ,941,- 600, is indicated in California, where lode mining has been continuously pro- duetive and where dredging for gold has been of growing importance. For Alaska an increase of $l l,0SS,So0 is indi- cated, and Montana and Arizona show gains in production, partly due to a greatly increased copper output. On the other hand, decrease of $916,300 is in- dieated in Colorado, chiefly at Cripple Creek, where production will probably not greatly increase until the compile tion of the Roosevelt deep drainage tun- mel Gold mining was otherwise progress sive in Colorado. A decrease of $S92,. 300 is shown in South Dakota, whose great Homestake mine has been closed since November 23, 1909, owing to labor difficulties. A marked decrease is indi' cated for Oregon, but the production of gold from Utah and Idaho remains prac. tieally as in 1906. A decreased output is indicated from the Philippines, where an increase was expected, as it had been understood that the dredging operations at Paracale and the deep mining in Ben guet have been increasingly productive.
 General decreases are indicated for the Southern Appalachian states. The small annual contributions of gold from Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming and Porto Rico have remained practically unchang ed. In general, gold production in creased mainly from placers and the mining of silicious ores, and to a small CT degree from copper ores, from which gold is by-product.
 According to estimates from the bu reau of statistics, the United States i'm ported in 1909 gold valued at $13,510, 513 in foreign ore, $26, ,36S in foreign bullion, and $6,059,313 in foreign coin and exported gold valued at $49S,S22 in domestic ore, $43,021 ,545 in domestic bullion, $S6,S03,265 in United States coin, and $2,7l7,725 in foreign coin, the excess of exports over imports thus be- ing $87, ,238,323 In 1908 there was ar excess of exports over imports valued at $30,939, ,163. The imports in 1908 were made up chiefly of ore and bullion from Mexico and to smaller degree from Canada and South america. Tn, exports consisted largely of coin ant went chiefly to South America, thougl large amounts of gold were sent to Ja pan, the United Kingdom and France.
 During 1909 the silver mining indus try suffered from low market prices fo the metal and for copper and lead, iron whose ores nearly 50 per cent of tn, annual production of silver is recovered The average price of silver in 1908 wa B cents per fine ounce, but it declined in 1909 to 52, or 25 cents below tn, average price for the last thirty years value not sufficiently attractive tt justify the mining, under ordinary con ditions, of lowgrade silver ores. Not withstanding the low market price O. lead and copper, however, the output O these metals was greater in 1909 thai in any previous year, and it was chief. for this reason, more especially on ac count of the increased copper output that the production of silver was main tained at about the same figures as il 1908, and at about 3,500,000 fine ounce above the average output for the las thirty years, even though the value wa