The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-01
LAKE COPPER YIELD SMALL.
Labor Troubles Cut Output TO 145,-
100000 POunds-Re turns Good.
BY n. II. MAuRER.


produced approximately 145.OOO.00O
pounds fine copper, a very sorry show
ing compared with other years. The nor
NAL output of the three counties comprised
in the copper district Is roughly 220.-
100000 pounds per annum. The decrease
this year IL traceable to unfavorable la
Dor conditions generally and In particu-
lar to the great strike which began July
% and continued TO the end OF the year,
though much weakened after the first two
months.
The year opened with nineteen pro-
ducng companies operating well up to
of labor, which became more pressing
as the year grew older. with a conse-
Quent decrease in production. The labor
war during tho last six months of the
year stopped production at q number of
mines.
Production during the first six months
was just under los, 100000 pounds, or at
the rate Of 21o,ooo.ooo pounds per annum.
which compares with 21s.l3s, 40S pounds
produced In 1912; with 2l9.si0,90i
pounds in 1911: 22l.462.9s4 pounds in
1910. and 231.S70.496 pounds in 1903. be-
ing copper actually mined during these
periods and not smelter returns. which
always include more or less copper mined
in previous years. The yield from this
source is reported to have been 2Sl,il2,-
22s pounds fine copper In 1912. The
smelter output will again be greater than
the output Of the mines. but the differ
ence will be small. There is at the end
of this year very little unsmelted cop
per mineral on hand.
The production OF silver Is compare
lively light. Considerable silver is found
associated with the copper in the mines
opened on the Calumet conglomerate and
Pewabic lodes. all obtained as by
product in the process Of electrolytc re-
filming. to which much of the copper is sub
jccted, but the quantity is never suffi-
ciently large to give the district stand
ing Of Importance among the recognized
silver producing States. The normal pro-
duction OF the white metal is about $780,
600 ounces annually. As the quantity of
silver produced is entirely dependent
upon the amount Of copper taken from
these beds the output this year will be
small. probably not exceeding 200, 600
ounces.
The average COS; pound OF copper
produced was approximately IL cents for
all companies, compared with 1925 cents
in 1912, and with n grand average Of
H. cents IA pound for all copper pro-
duced since mining on n commercial scale
in this district began in the year 1S49,
when also the first dividend was paid
Omitting the production Of all mines that
have not shown "A profit on operations,
the average cost OF copper produced by
dividend paying Lake Superior mines
will. for all years. probably not exceed
9.5 cents pound.
Dividend disbursements OF sS,344,1SS
are not disappointing, comparing with
ss.Ose.267 in 1912 and s6.2l3.265 in 1911,
The Isle Royale Copper Company. after
more than thirty years operation and
several reorganizations. declared diNI-
dend OF 81 share early in the year
and raises the number of dividend paying
mines In this district to nine. The pre-
mier dividend payer of the district for
many years past is the Calumet and
Hecla Mining Company. which disbursed
n total of s3,200,000 during the year. or
approximately IS per cent of the total.
The mines are, with few exceptions. in
excellent physical condition, Less than
one fourth OF the known mineral area
of the district has been touched. An an
nual production of 20o,Ooo.OOo pounds
of copper will probably be maintained
for at least twenty years To come
The present trouble with the Lake SUI
per,or copper district is solely one Of
labor Viewed from the standpoint: NJ the
mine operator labor conditions are very
unsatisfactory, principally because labor
is scarce and partly because ,he labor
strike which began in July has driven
and for more than a wear previous did
drive Efficient labor away in great num-
b,rs 10 other fields.
This condition had to be met by draw
ing ON the unskilled labor market. and
unskilled and Inexperienced workers are
dear at any price. But this is only n
temporary condition and must eventually
change for the better. In the sixth month
of the strike n material Improvement IS
already noticeable. BY no means all Of
IN. old EMPLOYEES are i'm sympathy with
the strike and the majority have again
returned 70 work in the mines after a
short period OF idleness.
The position OF the Western Federation
OF Miners is greatly weakened and the
strike. which was forced by this organiza- =
tion against the wishes OF the majority OF
the mine workers of this field. as has
since been ascertained, appears all hut
ended and certainly Is not so formidable
as IL was three or four months ago.
The difficulties between the mine opera
tors and this labor union. which at the
beginning embraced n minimum wage
scale OF 80 "A day, shorter workday
and recognition of the union have sim
mered down To recognition only. Tho de
maud for an eight hour day has been
yrant.d An average wage OF better tina n
IN a dav for nj, workers has been IN ex-
,s,ence Tor sovora, wears.
There rem,ins only the ouostior OF
r.cngn,t,on ~ .ho union This the onc-,-
IL. - ii, 80.