The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-09-17

4
serves" which contains much valuable
information for those in any way con-
Injected with the mining industry. In
letter accompanying the publication
the author, Geo. Otis Smith, says
believe that Europe's war furnishes
Americas opportunity to enlarge the
scope and extent of its mineral indus
try, and this paper has been written
to meet the present demand from the
public for information The elabora-
ton of this idea is the purpose Of the
publication and 1t will serve most
useful purpose. The following extract
on zinc and lead, which are Of special
interest to the people of the Occur
d'Alene district, Is taken from the bull
letin. The Miner will take pleasure In
securing copy Of the publication
complete for any one who desires 1t:
Zinc.
By queer coincidence the great
smelling centers Of continental Europe
are in regions where active fighting is
now on or may be expected in the near
future The zinc smclters of Upper
Silesia are in the extreme southeastern
portion of Prussia, mostly in the Kat
towitz, Beuthen, and Tarnowtz dist
ricts, which are adjacent to one anoth-
err and lie within or 10 miles Of the
Polish -Prussian border and near the
corner of Russia, Austria, and Ger
many The two smelters in Russia
! Poland are just across the border from
the Silesian smelters. They all seem
destined soon to be compelled to sus-
pend or decrease operations on account
of military activities, and in any event
their output certainly can not reach
the outside world. The same thing is
true of the smelters in Rhcnish Prus-
STA and Westphalia, some of which are
very near and most of which are with
in 100 miles of Liege In Belgium all
but three or four of the zinc-smclting
plants lie between Vcrviers and Liege
or are strung along the valley of the
Mouse between Liege and Namur: and
thier industrial prospects can we'll be
lie outside of the territory where act
i've military operations are likely, and
so will probably suffer only from scare
ity of labor as the employees are called
to the colors and from arrangements
Of transportation. The same is true
of the zinc smelters in England: but
those of Austro- Hungary WILL of
course, be put out of commission.
Other small smeters in Europe, Aus
tralia, and Japan will probably not b.
affected except as transportation Is
in terrupted. From these observations
1t can be seen that the zinc smelling
industry Of Europe will be in a sadly
demoralized condition while the war
continues and for some time thereafter.
If the war continues for one year,
the output of these countries for that
period would, at conservative esti-
mate, be only about 100000 tons-a
loss Of nearly 100000 tons for the year
The continental spelter market will
also be demoralized, however, so it may
be that the reduced production viii
still be ample. Apparently England's
Industrial activities after the first re
adjustment are over may not be seri-
ously restricted.
The war only serves to emphasize :.
condition which already confronted
the zinc industry of the United States
that smelling capacity and spelte.
production have increased faster than
consumption in the United States, as
shown by growth from 93,95S retorts
having an estimated maximum capac-
ity. when working on high grade ore
of 4O4,960 tons in 1910, to 127,754 re-
torts at the close of 1914, with the COM
pletion of those now building, having
an estimated capacity of 542,955 tons.
The production in 1910 was reported
to be 210.424 tons: the production for
the first half of 1914 is at the rate of
over $4,000 tons year, and no doub;
the second half OF the year will wit.
ness considerable gain over thai
figure The increase of spelter stocks
from 1922 tons at the close Of 1912 to
4O,695tons at the end of 1918, and tc
64,O39 tons at the middle of 1914. also
shows that production is increasing
faster than consumption.
The actual gain in capacity is even
more than is indicated by these figures
for in the early years number of
small, antiquated smelters that had
been idle for several years were includ
ed In estimating the total capacity
whereas in the latter years almost all
such smeletrs have been dismantled or
abandoned completely, and there have
peen more new, modern additions than
ever before in the same time. It is To
De borne In mind that a certain portion
OF the capacity is taken UP in the re-
distillation of zinc Dresses, and that
some plants do not yield full capacity
because they treat lower grade ores. 81
that the spelter produced from ore nj.
ways falls much short Of the maximum
capacity. On the other hand, the new
zinc oxide plant Of Leadville. Colo
VIII take great deal Of the low-grade |
carbonate ore away from the zinc
smeiters. so that the capacity per re-