The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-08-14
.EUROPE'S WAR NOW
GREATLY AFFECTS
CLIFTON -MORENC|

CLIFTON -MORENCI
cIifton-Morenci District, With All Cop
per Producing Regions, Now KeenIy
Affected by Wars Among Europe's
Great Nations-Curtailmen of Pro-
duction is Still Being Followed, With
Result that Low Grade Mines are
Closing and Many Men Thrown out
of EmpIoyment-Hope Felt for an
Early Betterment
The results of the great war now
raging among the powerful nations of
Northern Europe is already being
keenly felt in the Clifton-Morenci dis
trict, where its injury is indicated by
the curtailment of copper production
to the extent that hundreds of men
have been thrown from their accus-
toned employment. The discharge OF
workmen is logically followed by a
marked depression in all lines of
trade.
The most momentuous developments
of the local situation this week is the
decision of the Aridona Copper COM
pany to entirely discontinue the opera
tion of its entire oxide ores depart
Iment, this decision resulting in the
closing of the Clifton concentration,
teaching plant, the sulphide acid plant
and the oxide mines at Metcalf With
the exception of the Metcalf mines
all these industries are located at
Clifton, making this town feel more
acutely the reduction's result. 81
The number of men affected by
discharge by this discontinuance of
Operation of the oxide department is
approximately three hundred. Prev
GUS to the ceasing of operation OF the
oxide department, the Company had
been compelled to discharge workmen
at a number of departments, the blow
falling heaviest on the man engaged
in work which is not absolutely essen
tial to the production of copper the
new smelter of the Company is the
most sesibly affected, perhaps, of all
the departments with the exception OF
that of the oxide ores. Probably
total of four hundrde men have been
! discharged from all the combined de-
partments of the Company.
General Manager Carmichael of the
Arizona Copper company, states that
in every manner. possible his com,
4pany will strive to lessen the lefasfs
! of the situation upon its employees,
and that in all cases married employ
ees will receive the preference over
those who are not married. He IS
clad of the cheerful disposition shown
by the Company's employees concern
ing the unavoidable gravity OF the
situation, and appreciates their at
titude. =
/ The Detroit Copper Mining company,
! of Morenci, has been throughout this
week reducing its prodcution, the
rate of smelter output reduction being
according to an order promulgated
several days since, placed at forty
ner cent. The smelter has a capacity,
normal, of about one thousand tons
lper month, and the present reductlon
will therefore mean total output OF
about six hundred tons per month
The Company's concentrator produc-
/! tion has been reduced about tnlrly
Der cent. The Company has discon-
tinued operations at the Santa Rosa,
Summit, Wattles, and Fairbanks
nroperties. all of which are in the
development stage, and employing
about fifty men, who are discharged
The number of men discharged from
the various other departments OF the
Company has been relatively sl1gnt,
as the management is following
policy of keeping as many as posi-
| BILE of it's men employed, this, IN tne
face or Q6crodS6Q PTOIuCtiOi,
accomplished by having each man IN
various departments work either a
less number of hours per day, or a
less number days per week. Tne
miners, beginning late this week, Will
work only five days of the seven. Sun
day will be an idle day, but at present
no set rules concerning just what
DAYS of the week will see the mines
idle have been impaired. In common
with all the copper mines of Arizona
the D. C.. NJ. company's entire list
of employees in all the departments
have been reduced in wages to the
extent of ten per cent This condition
at Morenci as at Clifton, has been
cheerfully and wisely met by the men,
they realizing that only by good for
tune has the Clifton-Morenci district
been injured to far less extent
than have many of the other copper
properties of the Southwest.
The Shannon Copper company has
been visibly affected. 1t is continu-.
ing operation with forces greatly re-
duced in every department. The ten
per cent reduction to workmen still
employed is with this Company In
effect.
Companies Stores Generous.
The stores departments of the
three copper companies of the county
unite in the positive announcement
that they will do all in their power to
assist the people of the district by
selling merchandise at the very lowest
prices possible. Every advantage will
be taken in buying and other
methods, that the people of the dis
trict may have the troublous cond1-
tions alleviated in this respect at
least to the greatest possible extent.
While wholesale prices on necessities
of life have already largely advanced,
none of the stores at this writing have
advanced retail prices. This is mark
edly appreciated by the buying pub
lie.
Outlook for the Future