The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-31
YEAR FOR THE
MINES OF THE UNITED STATES

PROSPEROUS YEAR run TIE
MINES OF THE UNITED STATES
The midyear review of mining con
ditions reported to the secretary OF
the interior on July by the director
of the United States Geological Sur
yey is well supported by the prelmi-
nary reports for the year submitted
today. The geological survey is max.
ing public its usual estimate of min
eral production for 1915 in the form
of u separate statement for each Of
the more important mineral products.
\ review of these statements con
firms Secretary Lanes comment Of
last July TO the effect that the mining
revival is in full swing. In the west
crn states alone the metal production
shows an increase in value of more
than $l3O.O0OO00 over the correspond
ing figures for 1914; and the years
increase in output for the principal
metals measured in value is more
than S25O,OO0OOO. Moreover, it is
not unreasonable to expect that when
the full returns for all mineral pro-
ducts are compiled they will show
that 1915 was the cOuntry's most pro-
ductiye year in the mining industry,
The total may even reach two and
one-half billion dollars.
In the response to bettered condi-
tions the production figures for cop
per, iron and zinc show the largest
increase.
Copper Beats All Records,
The copper mines passed all rec
ords for previous years, the 1913
output having a value of 1896, 1000,
or $S3,OOO,O0O more than the value of
the production for 1914 The statis-
ties and estimates received place the
output eff blister and lake copper at
1865, 500, 600 pounds or more than l2O,-
100000 pounds in excess of the lar
gcst previous production and eighteen
per cent above last years figures.
Only twice in the history of copper
mining has there been larger in
crease in quantity of metal produced.
Large Increase in Iron.
The total shipments of iron ore
from the mines of the United States
in 1915 are estimated to have eX-
ceeded 55,OOO0OO gross tons, an in
crease over 1914 of more than 3S per
cent. Based on the same price as
received in 1914 this represents an
increase in total value of about $2G-
$4,000 The increase in pig iron is
estimated at G,5O0OOO tons, with a
total increase in value of pig iron
production of more than $120,0OO,OOO.
Zinc Records Also Broken.
The output of zinc (spelter) made
from domestic ores was larger than
ever before, being about $4,000 tons,
worth $12O,OOO,OOO as compared with
343, i1S tons in 1914, an increase of
about $1,000 tons or nearly - per
cent in quantity and of $S5,00O,OOO
in value. Production was increased
during the latter half of the year, as
the production during the first half
was at the rate of $4,000 tons annu-
ally and at the rate of $4,000 tons
during the latter half
The output of refined pig lead from
domestic ores was about $1,000 tons,
worth about $iS,5OooO0, as compared
with 1924 tons in 1915 an increase
of only $500 tons in quantity, but of
$S.5OooOO. or % per cent, in value.
The production of antimonial lead
was 2O.5lO tons as compared with
lG.GGS tons in 1915 an increase of
3.>N2 tons or % per cent in quantity
and an increase in value of nearly
$2,o0o00o.
Gold and Silver Increases.
The annual preliminary estimates
on the production Of gold and silver
in the United States, made jointly by
the United States geological survey
and the bureau of the mint, are not
yet complete, but early figures based
on reports from the mines indicate
an increase in mine production over