The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-10-15
CAEuRDALENESST|lL PROSPEROUS
|NSP|TE OF The LOW METAL PRICES
,AacE AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT oRk BY ASSESSMENT COM
PANiEs CONTRIBUTES LARGELY GENERAL
WELFARE DISTRICT.


zinc and copper is matter of grave
concern to the people of the Occur
dAlene district, and naturally there is
increased apprehension with the fur
ther decline Of prices that additional
curtailment Of production may be ne
cessary. However, the absence OF any
announcement on the subject from the
hig operators of the district is taken
as a possible assurance that they will
manage to weather the storm without
further reduction in output. If this is
true, their action is no doubt largely
governed by desire to give employ
ment to a large number OF men. for
from a purely business standpoint the
natural policy would be to conserve
their ore reserves until such time as
advanced prices insure larger pro-
fit. The silver value in the ore is
matter Of even greater importance at
this time and if the long expected and
predicted rise in the price of the white
metal should mate rialize it would
greatly relieve the situation.
Lead Situation.
The trouble with lead seems to be
due solely to falling off in domestic
consumption. Manufacturing enter
prises and building operations which
consume lead and make the home mar
lset are at a standstill, and the war in
Europe has intensified situation that
was already unsatisfactory. Comment
ing on the lead situation, the Engin-
eering and Mining Journal says:
"The bald fact Is that unsold stocks
in the hands Of producers are bigger
than they want to carry in present cir
cumstances and level of price has
got to be found that will move them or
curtal production, or both"
Zinc.
The same influences that depress
the lead market are mainly RESPONSE
ble for the low price of zinc also. A
few weeks ago a sudden stimulous
was given to the price of spelter, DUE
It was said, to the great demand In
England, that country having hereto
fore been supplied by the mines OF
Belgium and Germany. But the ad-
vance was of short duration, the de-
mand from England proving to be not
great and was generally for special
grades not offered in the open market
The Brighter Side.
But If the prices of our mineral pro-
ducts are not what they should pe'
there is another feature of mining IN
this district that is now being more
fully appreciated, and that Is the large
number of development companies IN
steady operation, generally through as
sessments, but some of them through
the sale of treasury stock. There Is
an enormous amount Of work OF TINS
character going on in all parts OF the
district, and in the aggregate II means
a large amount Of money being paio
out monthly for wages and supplies
and is an important factor IN man
tanning the present standard OF pros
perity. Money spent in mining deVei-
opment now may mean the opening OF
mine by the time the reaction comes
and prices return to normal. That Is
the view taken by the average snare
holder in the assessment companies
and 1t is the correct view.
The products Of our mines-leau
silver zinc and copper-are indispeh-
sable to the people, and 1t is only
question of time until the demand VIII
restore the market to point wher'
the producer will receive prices II
keeping with his investment and rls'
md Increased output will be the oroe'
in place Of curtailment Whatever !
the cause Of the present widespread
depression, and opinions differ wloel.
on the subject, the necessities OF th
people must eventually bring ABOUT
change for the better. In the mean
time while waiting for that change Z
make its appearance and contribut'n
as far as possible to bring 1t about, W
in the Occur d'Alene district have rea
son to congratulate ourselves on IN
splendid resources which insure us
fair measure of prosperity even Ill per
iods Of general depression. :.