The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-01-15

ed by the figures compiled by the
geological survey showing the mineral
production of the United States for the
year 1918 For many years.. in fact
from the beginning of the lead mining
industry, Missouri has been the ban
ner lead producing state. But Mis-
souri, was outstripped by Idaho last
year. and no one who is informed on
the mining situation in Idaho can
doubt that this state will hold first
place for many years. This does not
imply decline in lead mining in
Missouri. On the contrary that state
showed a substantial increase in pro-
,duction last year 1t simply means
that the great deposits of lead-silver
ores of Idaho are just beginning to be
sight, in developed and partially de-
veloped mines, makes it absolutely
certain that each succeeding year will
show an increase far in excess Of that
of any other state now producing lead.
Most Of It Comes From Coeur d'AIene
District.
Over 80 per cent of the lead pro-
duced in the states of Idaho comes
from the mines Of the Coeur d'Alene
district But this is only part Of the
story of mining in this district during
the past year Zinc mining in the
Coeur dAlenes has reached large pro-
portions already and it is the opinion
of those best informed that 1t will
eventually rival the output of lead
The large increase in zinc production
is due both to the development Of
large deposits Of zinc ore and also to
the success Of modern methods of
saving the zinc values in lead-silver
ores Both sources promise to greatly
increase the output from this time on.
Copper has also come to be an i'm
portant product in this district, and
the possibilities of future develop
.ment seem to place this metal in the
same class with lead and zinc in this
district. Recent developments re-
ported in the Snowstorm and the op-
GRAFTON Of the National mill are GER
tain to give a great impetus to de-
velopment work in the copper belt.
The geological survey has the fol-
lowing on the lead output of 1918:
Total Production for Year.
The total production of refined lead,
desilverized and soft, from domestic
and foreign ores in 1913 was approx
imately 466,S43 short tons, worth at
the average New York price, Sal, ,Os2,-
1874, compared with 48O,S94 tors
worth s43,2SO,46O, in 1912. and 4S6,979
tons in 1911. These figures do not in
clude an estimated output of 1888
tons of antimonial lead against 49,
$50 tons in 1912 and 14,O7S tons in
1911. Of the total production, desil-
verified lead of domestic origin, ex-
elusive of desilverized soft lead, is es-
timated at 25s45s tons, against 221,-
.SO tons in 1912; and desilverized lead
Of foreign origin at s4.372 tons, COM
pared with SS,377 tons in 1912. The
production of soft lead, mainly from
Mississippi valley ores, is estimated
at 156,O13 tons. compared with ILL.,
037 tons in 1912
Idaho Gains First Place.
The final figures of production Of
soft lead are likely to show an in
crease of a few thousands tons over
those given here, for the reason that
the argentiferous lead smelters and
refineres undoubtedly treated more or
less soft lead from the Mississippi
valley which is not distinguished from
silver-lead ores in their preliminary
estimates. 1t may be, with these adj
ditions, that Missouri will retain first
place in the years output of refined
lead. In the mine production of lead,
Missouri lost first place to Idaho. The
imports of lead are estimated at 1878
short tons Of lead in ore, valued at
$490,060; 46,S8S tons of lead in base
bullion. valued at $2,347,14s; and Al
tons of refined lead, valued at $3655;
total of 56.717 tons, compared with
$3.50 tons In 1912.
Available Supply Of Lead.
The amount Of lead available for
consumption during 1913 may be esti-
mated by adding to the stock of for
eign lead domestic stocks are not
known) in bonded warehouses at the
beginning Of the year C10,492 short
tons) the imports (56,717 tons) and
the domestic production (412,471
tons), making an apparent supply of
479.6s0 tons. From this is to be sub
tracted the foreign lead exported from
warehouse (44,000 tons). the foreign
lead exported in manufacturers under
drawback (7214 tons in nine months,,
the reduction by liquidation (391 tons),
and the stock In bonded warel, ,uses
at the close of the year (assumed to
he the same as at the close of Novem-
ber, 6So1 tons), leaving as available
for consumption 421,774 tons, which by
comparison with 3sS,14s tons in 1912.
with ss5.sls tons in 1911. and 379,1se
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