The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-10-18
IN THE MI N ES WALKERS WEEKLY.
 COPPER LETTER
Copper Still Continues to Sell Firm
 Ranging Around 18 Gents.

Ranging Around 18 Gents.
 Geo. Walker in his Weekly Copper Letter in Boston Commercial under date of October 12.h says:
 Copper continues firm Lake is selling at 17% cents pound. The Copper Producers statement showed an unexpected increase of 16,364, ,213 pounds in the American surplus There was a decrease of 3,19S, 720 pounds in the foreign visible supply, however, and 4,O99,2OO pounds in the Hamburg and Rotterdam stocks, a to- tai of 7,297,92O pounds decrease abroad, so that the actual increase in the worlds stocks for the month was only 9,O66,293 pounds Such an increase could readily be occasioned as it undoubtedly was, by delay of shipments in the last two or three days of the month. Complaint has been heard, in fact, of difficulty ex- perienced in obtaining shipping facili- ties for the export of copper
 The production showed a decrease of 5,53S,7O2 pounds. Domestic de liveries fell off 15,261, ,6OS pounds and exports were smaller by 1O,22O,36 pounds. It is not believed, however that there is anything in these figures which signifies a decrease in con- sumption. The whole trend of the statistics will probably change very strongly for the better this month
 The reduction of output occasioned by the strikes at the Utah Copper and Nevada Consolidated properties will statements for two or three months; but the failing off in the Mexican out put, due to the revolution there should make its appearance in the November or the December statc- ment. The labor troubles in Utah and Nevada are now reducing the American production at the rate of 20,0O0,0O0 pounds monthly and sooner or later this must have it's effect in decreased supplies, which naturally will lead to a further advance in the price of the metal.
 Some publications, the editors of which do not understand mining con ditions and practices, are persistently arguing that the copper output is really being curtailed and that anyone of the several districts in the United States could quickly double it's pro- duction if the management of the con- panies operating there so choose. The fact is, however, that every copper mining company in the wrold is pro- ducing just as many pounds of copper as it profitably can. Reduction plants being operated to their full capacity To increase these plants would re- quire several years; but what is more important still is the matter of ex- tending developments and putting mines in shape for the larger output capacity would call for.
 During the past ten years mining companies have been constantly in- creasing their productive capacity and nearly of them have reached the maxi mum limit. It is we'll known that even luOuSH tue u1ln6S Ol IHe Ldh0 Superior district made very satisfac- tory business profits during the long period O depressed copper prices they have been unable even to maintain the average volume of output which they attained several years ago.
 Of course there is reason to expect and hope that the production of cop per will continue to grow. That the ratio of increase will be rapid during the next 10 years as in the past de- cade, however, is a physical impossi- bility. Consumption, however, is growing more rapidly tn naever be- fore and unless there is an enormous output of copper from some source at present unknown the pric eof the met al will average well above 16 cents | pound during the coming 10 or T. years.
 cOIITLUECTED MIAMI