The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
HISTORY MAKING
WEEK IN COPPER
December Statement Of Copper
Producers Association Shows
Bic Increase in stocks.
YEARS OUTPUT A RECORD
Worlds Production Is ESti-
mated at More Than 2.2O3.,
100000 Pounds.

History was made In the copper in
dustry during the past week. when an
Increase Of A3n0oOnO pounds in the
stocks OF refined copper in hands of re-
liners themselves on January was re-
ported by the Copper Producers AssoCia-
ton. N,ycr before had a months fluc-
tuatiou In surplus stocks OF the metal
been 80 wide. The immediate cause OF
the heavy Increase in stocks in the United
States was the smallest amount delivered
to American consumers in the past six
years which measure tho life OF the
present association. the total being less
than 80. 900. unu pounds. This small home
shipment was du" 10 tn. overhought con-
ditiou Of consumers last fall. who faced
an unexpected falling OF in business as
the year drew 10 close with stocks OF
copper purchased for a more normal
consumption. The result was that cop
per bought FOR October delivery was de-
fcrr,d in large part to the following
month while some November delivery
was deferred into December. No original
purchases for December shipment were
made for quantities,
So far as the immediate demand for
metal was concerned th"r" was no fea-
ture. Tn" prices of li7s Il IL cents pre-
Vailug AZ the oHd of December have dis
appeared and In their stead there have
been offerings OF copper by producers at
lii. u ltA> cents while dealers and sec
ond hands have sold copper down to
II n lias cents
The statement Of the Copper Producers
Association follows Stocks. December,
li7.H2@.I2H pounds production during De
c"mher. 1880. tgl pounds deliveries for
home consumption, 2l,"3N,i70 pounds for
export, 13.5i2il3 pounds total deliver
les. A|.i>h.H>3 pounds stocks on hand
January |. 9l.A3>.ss7 pounds
Never hcfur. since the industry has
attained It's present prominence, have do
nestle consumers taken such small
quantity of copper as during December
Tn" nearest approach was IN January.
lHl2, when hut i2,07S,55I pounds were
sent Ia American plants
The amount of refined copper produced
In this country during the year was
622 ian,> $50 pounds. the heaviest output
thus far attained. Exports of SG9,062,T S4
pounds also constituted a new high record.
liut deliveries to domestic Consumers to-
falling 1881 ,53l pounds. fell below the
mark Of l?l2. Although refined produc.
tinn WAS the heaviest known. the smclter
output of the country was below the 1912
total The discrepancy may Ice accounts /
for by tn" fact that nj the end Of both
l"lI and lHl2 there was carried forwa rd
=
was worked of through rcnnrrios
during the past year to a greater extent
than indicated 10y tho monthly mine and
smcltor output figures,
The worlds production Of copper in
1919, as estimated by the Engineering and
NihiHJ JouHIl. was a,2ui,57S. 064 pounds.
as compared with 2,2AHl2Siss pounds In
l9l2. The decrease was due IN great
part To- the falling off in the United States
particularly In the Lake superior region
whore the enforced idlcneSs brought about
10y the strike caused "a reduction of 1000
600 pounds i'm the yield of that district
In addition to the United States slump
however, thor" must also hr recorded Il
falling off in production from McNlc
Spain and Portugal. whereas to Russia
must be credited the heaviest in
crease in production viewed from the per-
ccntage basis
ElcCtrolytC copper during the past year
averaged slightly better than l5h cents
n pound, although some of the individual
producers obtained an average of clos.
to l6 cents on copper actually during the
twelve months period Refinery capacity
during the year showed "A small increase,
while plans have also been made to en-
larg" some of the refneries again dur
nE the current year. The Raritan
works. controlled by the International
smelling and Refining Company, brought
ts capacity UP tn tn" 40O. 1000. 900 pound
mark. which had previously been es-
tablished by the Nichols Copper COMPANY
The Raritan plant will this year in
crease It's capacity to about $50, 600, O0Q
pounds per annum, making IL the largest
refinery I'm the world.
The new year has started out with
record breaking tonnages Of copper taken