The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-02-11
BACK TO ITS
CAPACITY SOON
Utah Copper Now in Position to
Increase Production

arise occasion when, in spite of ih'
best efforts OF capable management
the earnings OF that proposition will be
seriously Impaired.
This is particularly true OF any
proposition which. like railroads
steamship companies OF steam shovel
mines, is conducted in the open. For
instance. the Illinois Central Railroad.
a company with the longest dividend
record of any railroad in this country,
had its earnings for six months cut
squarcy in half. II is not surprising
therefore that the Utah Copper should
have similar experience.
During the last quarter of 1912 the
Utah Copper company passed through
perhaps the most severe period in it's
history ON the mere theory of chance
it is exceedingly unlikely that ans
such combination of circumstances
should rccur During these three
months the three factors most import
ant in their influence on its earning
capacity, uamely--labor conditions.
weather conditions, and the price of
copper, all took a sharply unfayorablc
turn
owing to the strike, the company
plans were practically shut down for
ala entire month and from this pros
trauon naturally must be gradual Not
only were the shipments of ore much
below their previous volume, but the
ore Itself was Of a lower grade, labor
was far more inefficient, so that Tho
percentage of recovery was materials
lower, and this, in turn, resulted in a
poorer grade of concentrates and high
cg smelling costs.
Add To this the fact that severe
weather conditions made 1t very diff
cult TO move and handle the ore at all.
and that there was a sharp and quite
severe drop i'm the price of copper .
which made 1t advisable for the com
pau> To writc down the price ot carry
ing the metal about 70 cent pound +
and IT. is remarkable that the compaus /
should have broken even at all
We have mad" this statement bc- I.
cause most people not familiar with
oprrltme conditions al such a proper
o. do not begin 90 realize the handi-
caps with WHICH even "a most efficient
management has at times, Co cope.
IN reading the cumpuuyS fJrthcUm-
ing report for this quarter these con-
ditious should bc borne in mind. 1ut .t .
should Furthermore Doc rem,mJerc.
that these conditions are aIready
passing and that the COMPANY is fast
returning 90 normal state OF opera
t.ans.
For instance. M the end OF Drcem
Der lher. "0r, 1897 men employed as
against 1922 rh. month previous Tn
COMPANY Is giving great attention Co
t.. housing and w-.l-Jr.ug OF ts men,
a..H tIT Hes- o. great tudours o.
prevent ID ...lrr. u.e ~ labor troubles
HOW mash more efficient, The plant is.
.r under unsatisfactory condition.
.H ... ordinary plant = evidenced
D.. .H. fact that alg.n- tHr month oi
h.."u..r tha o.u.aus Eu-Ham g.
'#IH.r. E d; handled uE.I $4,000 tom
ua. .Hwp5roI with about a.F"n
.u aa u 'Jn Efu Grauda ta. diff
..r.ur' n..u- due p. 'a, inability 5t
tho Iau,r Goo handle ~ mr-.r touuag,
under tHo uufavorablc climatic c0udi-
,.oas
EoW rHe ra# Copper CO.. ls gaining
steadily m .amu, and uGaHt. OF orc.
.u. 'Hr first rH.. arr.. OF Jsuualr
tH. .nwuaU a.,.tg,h approximately.
lt"UH toms aaU- aud rur grade wa,
slightly higher 'uau loo tur msD quar-
ter o. 1872 rrr tu. mIr month Oh,
COMPANY .luld UtnoIr auuraNimtr-.
lonJo toms aud produce 1s0g0oo
.auIs. as against a.sla.0oo iu Dccem-
0.r
IHe completion of OBJ, ,ous.-rrusH-
luH .e,lm lr lbc Magma mill viii ru-
.uIu tHs plant tp treat as much t9u-
Iian bon uulasomulr. weather as IT. eyer
a.u r.I.r. .u warm weather Beginning
with ru. first Of this month IL rs OK
'iuga ra aual. 1000 tons and the Mag
EJ plant should DO. able % treat 10000
,.flnlf.I CHAT fI.. .,.ytt.,r.t. .I.FlIH