The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-11-19
IMPROVEMENT IN METAL MARKET HELPS
BUSINESS IN COEURD ALENE DISTRICT
WORLD CONDITIONS WILL BRING US PROSPERITY SPITE
DEMOCRATIC TARlFF-GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE-
A RID
mining operations

CO far as actual mining operations
ara concerned, the situation in the
coaur d,Alene district Is unchanged
from that which has prevailed for sew
oral months. The curtailment OF out !
,,+ ia still maintained and mines that
have been closed down give no evil
dance of a resumption. Nevertheless
IN mining circles there Is an unmis-
4opable change, and more optimistic
,,ew is taken than has prevailed in
many weeks. This is due almost who'll
" to the advance in the prices OF the
metals. particularly lead and zinc and
n measure to the upward tendency
~ silver and copper. These advances
ora anparently due to stronger dom
estic demand, for almost simultane=
ously with the advance comes tight
ening up of the embargo on exports
n Europe. An explanation of the i'm
nroved domestic market depends upon
the noint of view. Those who pin
their faith to the administration credit
the new currency law with restoring
confidence by making available large
sums of money through the reserve
banks of the country which gives
substantial encouragement to private
enterprise and starts the wheels OF in
dustry throughout the country. l.
may be conceded that this is partly
true. but a more practical and plaus-
41,;. FRY c
iust beginning to respond to the de-
mands made upon 1t by the almost
complete cessation of operations of the
great manufacturing countries of Eur
ope, which involves not only the sup
plying to our own people OF gooas
heretofore obtained in Europe, but al
so the people Of other countries whose
market Is closed by the European war.
Rut regardless of which explanation Is
accepted, the fact stands out that 1t Is
the Improvement in the home market
that has exercised buoyant influence
upon the metal prices. The beneficial
effect is plainly evident in local busl-
ness. and II the situation continues to
improve there will no doubt be in
creased mining activity not only among
the producing mines, but also in the
development of new properties.
Lead.
The quick advance of lead this week
indicates that the surplus stock has
been exhausted and that the demand
has increased to point that easily
absorbs the reduced output. Should
the business and industrial condition
of the country continue to improve
the consumption should soon reach @
point that would justify resumption
Of production upon normal basis.
Zinc.
The Improved quotations for zinc
seem to be due to the same influences
that advanced the price of lead. INT
restoration of the steel industry, Whici
Is now predicted by those who arr
supposed to be informed, would prov
a boon to the zinc miners, as that Il
the greatest consumer of zinc. IN
closing down of the Butte & Superb
mine, the largest producer of zinc Il
the United States, greatly strength
e,.ed the price of that metal 1t is an
nounced that this mine Will start u
again about the first of the year, Whe
It Is hoped the demand will be sum
Client to take up the increased produc
tion.
Copper.
The copper outlook is not so en-
couraging as that of lead ana zln
While the market shows some I'm
provement, the declaration OF Ut
British government that copper Woul
be regarded unconditionally as cor
traband of war has completely smut
out Of the European market, Whle
means that the present 80 per Gel
curtailment of the output must be cor
tinued indefinitely. However, the III
gineering and Mining Journal TAX
rather hopeful view of the copp
situation. as will be seen from the 10
lowing comment on the market TAX
from the last issue:
"The behavior Of the copper marx
during the last four weeks mas oe'
encouraging Having fallen to
lowest stage, it rallied by reason
some substantial buying, and then 7
ceived some very bad news wltho
declining more than a trifle SIN
which it has rallied again The re
sons for this are that domestic co
sumption is probably increasing, VIII
1t is certain that some of the larg'
producers will not sell literally at
present level of price"