The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-02-19
LOW PRICES Of METALS Do NOT CHECK
The STEADY DEVELOPMENT Of DISTRICT
DEMAND SEEMS PRlcEs-aE.
NEwED ACTIVITY LOCAL srocks-uNLIMlrEo
POSSIBILITIES OF MINING INDUSTRY.
, The advance in the prices Of lead

md speter a few weeks ago, aft1r
dropping to points 50 low that grave
apprehensions were felt for the future
If the market, came as a welcome re-
lief to the lead and zinc operators and
Ia all athers dependent upon the pro-
ftabc mining If these metals. But
the advance stopped too soon, prices
remaining practically stationary 1T
$4 % to $i30 for lead and $53 to S5ih
for Spelter, only to drop back during
the past week to the former low prices,
1895 to s4o5 for lead and S. 80 to IS 40
for spelter
The only explanation that can b.
given for these continued low prices Is
which would indicate that the general
resumption of Industrial operations
throughout the country which is 50
proclaimed through the
administration press is stu far from a
reality Local conditions In favored
sections have no doubt caused a re-
sumption of industrial activity In GER
ain lines, but these do not reflect the
real condition of the country. The
country at large. like John Lind in
Mexico Is passing through a prolong
ID period of hopeful waiting" and the
md Is not in sight.
Copper also still lags well below SIS.
he lowest point 1t should be in the
opinion of experts to insure steady AMI
fair returns for all CLASSES Of operat-
0rS.
Local Stocks Revive.
In spite of the unsatisfactory state
If the metal market, there has been
lute a revival In the demand for
Occur d'Alene stocks, particularly dur
ng the last few days, Sales, however,
10 not represent large transactions
and tho condition Of the market has
no bearing upon the general condition
of the country. They do, nevertheless,
unmistakably Indicate an abiding faith
in the mines of the Coeur d'Alenc dis
trict. and that no influences can for
long depress the value of Occur
d'Alene securities.
Finding the vein in the Moonlight d
few days ago and reports that ore had
been encountered in the drift caused a
furry in this city and the stock almost
doubled at bound. with few sales re-
corded. Benton holds its own aud Is
not likely to show any weakness. It's
development goes steadily on and the
impression is general that 1t Is anoth-
er mine in the making. Mssoula Con
per has been quite active during the
week and advanced several points, but
Just what has developed In the prop
erty to cause this activity Is not cleac,
Development Work Goes on
Regardless of the low prices of the
metals and the more or less uncertain
ty of the future, according to the point
Of view. the new development work ali
over the district goes on without in
ierruption and with results most graf
flying. Twenty years ago 1t was not
to hear people speak with
apprehension Of the time
when the mines would be worked ou'.
when men would be forced to abandon
their homes. their Property possessions
and leave the district to revert to its
former solitude. 1t Is hard to realize
now that such thoughts were ever en-
tertained. for not only are most Of the
mines Of that day still on the active
list. but year after year new mines
have been added which will duplicate
The records Of the old, while vast de-
posits Of lead. zinc and copper In every
section Of the district have been un-
and will soon enter the pro
1uctive stage, showing that after
quarter of a century OF continuous
production, the real possibilities Of this
mineral field are just now
being fully realized and appreciated
Improved Mining Methods.
Keeping pace with the new mineral
discoveries, milling me thods have
shown remarkable progress since tie
first concentrators were erected in thsS
district, and this Is one Of the i'm por!
ant factors bearing on the future ~
mining here. Not only do these I'm
involve the successful
treatment of low grade ores which
could not be handled under the o,G
system prc1tably, but zinc values
which were then total loss ard whi>n
also detracted from the value Of lead
are now saved and swell the profits Of
the mines. Improvements resutnr
from continuous experimenting are
still being made, and even greater pr
gress In this respect may reasonably