The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-01-07

The year 1914 was marked by an
enormous increase in the output Of do
nestle lead in the United States, ac-
cording to c. E. Siebenthal of the
United States geological survey--an
increase of nearly 100000 tons over the
production Of any preceding year
There was also a heavy decrease in the
tonnage of lead of foreign origin treat
ed in the United States, and for the
first time in years a great increase in
the quantity of domestic lead export
ed to European countries. AL the same
time the average price of lead in the
United States was the lowest since
1898.
The estimates have been compiled
from reports to the survey by all lead
refnerles and soft lead smelters III OPP
Grafton during the year These reports
cover actual production for the first
10 or IL months of the year, with an
estimate for the remainder of the
year, and from them the figures of pro-
duction are made up without change
The statistics of imports, exports and
lead remaining in warehouse have been
taken from the records of the foreign
and domestic commerce for IL months,
the figures for December having been
estimated.
Production Over Half Million Tons.
The production of refined lead, de-
silyerized and soft, from domestic and
foreign ores in 1914 was approximately
537079 short tons, worth at the av-
erage New York price, 1882, 162,
compared with 49, AGO tons. worth
$40,696,4 S0 in 1918, and with 4S0,S94
tons in 1912. The figures for 1914 do
not include an estimated output Of 49,
$50 tons of antimonial lead against
1866 tons in 1913 and 1852 tons in
1912. OF the total production. desil-
verified lead Of domestic origin, ex-
elusive Of desilverized soft lead, is es-
timated at 312,257 tons against ESQ.,
SIS tons in 1913 and 1880 tons in
1912; and desilveriZed lead of foreign
origin comprised 1926 tons. compar-
ed with 50.5S2 tons in 1913 and SS,377
tons in 1912. The production Of soft
lead mainly from Mississippi valley
ores, IS estimated at 1882 tons. COM
pared with 161, 800 tons in 1913, and
1854 tons in 1911, the largest prior
output Of soft lead. The total produc-
ton of lead, desilverized and soft, from
domestic ores, was thus about 511,7S4
tons, almost 100000 tons more than in
any previous year and $4,000 tons more
than the total output Of the country
from both domestic and foreign sources
in any previous year.
The final figures of the production
of soft lead are likely TO show an in
crease Of few thousand tons over
those here given, for the reason that
the argentiferous lead shelters and re-
fneries undoubtedly treated more or
less soft lead from the Mississippi val
ley which is not distinguished from
silver-lead ores in their preliminary es-
Inmates. In any event Missouri has un-
doubtedly retained first place in lead
production, with the largest output in
the states history.
Imports and Exports.
The imports of lead are estimated
at 11.764 short tons of lead in ore,
valued at $743,SS2; 1893 tons of lead
in base bullion. valued at $1,029233;
and 142 IONS of refined lead, valued at
$9751-a total of 26,904 tons valued at
l,7S2,316, compared with 57145 tons,
valued at $2,965,S17, in 1913. OF the
1914 imports about q. 1000 tons. or near