The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-09-04
ASKS U.S.TO BUY
ITS SUPPLY OF
COPPER NOW
Commercial Club Attempts to I'M
prove Industrial Situation


The Copper Country Commercial
club has hit upon an idea that should
improve local conditions and in the
event that success attends the effort,
the industrial situation here would i'm
prove materially. Efforts to put through
the proposed plan have been COM
menced by Secretary George l.. Price
Of the Commercial club. Letters have
been forwarded to Senators Townsend
and Smith of this state and similar
communications will be sent To sena-
tors of other states.
These letters, copy Of which follows,
request the assistance OF the senator's
You no doubt are aware OF the pres
ent demoralizing condition in the cop
per country A number Of western
mines have been forced to suspend OPP
cratons entirely. In the Lake Su-
perior district $1,000 men are out OF
work, or are employed only part time
at reduced wages, as a result OF the
lack of "a market for copper. Fully six
~ per cent OF the Lake Superior prod
uct Is exported, chiefly to Germany,
and the European war has cut off all
sale for this copper
The situation is doubly serious,
coming on the heels Of several
months strike which left both the
mines and miners with depleted treas
uries. Thousands OF workers are facing
famine; the mines, with their sur
pluGes wiped ont and no market for
their product, cannot continue To OPP
crate at heavy expense and with no
source of revenue. Dividends have
been passed; employees have been
placed on part time: the salaries Of
officials have been sharply cut and eX-
penses have been curtailed in every |
way, but in spite of every economy |
it will soon be impossible for the
mines To continue operations unless
they can find an outlet for their cop
per.
Prosperity After Reaction.
There is no question that as soon
as Il reaction from the present general
depression sets in there will be "A
ditions. now existing. however, it will
be utterly impossible for the mines
especially those of the Lake Superior
district, where the worlds finest cop
per il produced-to accumulate sur
plus to meet this demand. The. result
will he to delay materially that return
OF Industrial prosperity which we are
all so anxious to see.
THE present copper situation pre-
sents "A national, rather than a local,
economic problem. Copper enters into
so many places OF manufacturing; so
greatly into transportation; so largely
into import government work, that
sufficient supply is imperative. This
supply can be held only through the
normal operation Of our mines, and
these mines can operate only with an
assured MARKHAM immediate market
for their copper.
The government has displayed a
Willingness to aid the
silver mines of the west; the cotton
growers of the south; the railroads and
the farmers to meet this crisis. May
we hope that the same judcious assist
ance will be extended to the copper
of America, upon which not
only depends the present livelihood of
thousands OF workers and their fam
lilies. but the future prosperity of the
entire nation.
Urges U. S. To Buy Now.
THE government is n heavy con-
sumner OF copper, i'm it's minis; it's en-
craving department.; it's navy. yards;
its armament works; its engineering
activities Would ii not be feasible
for the government to purchase at the
present market price-which IL below
the normal for the past twenty-five
an amount Of copper as 1t
might reasonably expect to consume
during the next few years. II 1t is
but 10000, 000 pounds-less than one
sixtieth of the normal annual produc-