The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-07-06
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(. 1915 PROMISES GOOD ::
Z: MINERAL OUTPUT ::
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prosperous and enjoying a revival
of active development" With this
statement the director of the United
States geological survey opens an Of
fetal review of mining conditions as
reported to him by the government
biologists and statisticians working on
this subject. This revival is particu-
larly true of some of the metals for
which increased demands have been
noted during the past six months This
country has been first thrown upon its
own resources for mineral products re-
quired and next, given the opportunity
to supply the needs of foreign coun-
tries who have offered us their trade.
Comparative freedom from foreign
competition and, in some important
case, increase of foreign markets
have stimulated production and gen
eral mining advance has set in"
Summarizing the special reports at
hand, Director Smith continues his
review:
The six months record in iron is
reassuring in that hopes at the begin
ming of the year have been realized
Ore shipments from the Lake Superior
mines have begun well, May, 1915
showing a 80 per cent increase over
May, 1914. The pig iron output is
also promising in its steady increase
month by month so that reasonable
prophecy is for a greater total pig iron
production for 1915 than for last year.
Enlargement and extensions at the
iron and steel pants, furnish unmistak-
able evidence of returning business
confidence.
The half year period just completed
| has witnessed great changes in the
copper industry and in every partic-
ular The improvement has been nota-
BILE. Prices, output, and wages have
shown an upward trend, and prosperi-
ty is the word in the copper districts
of the United States.
The demand for spelter and lead,
with the present high prices, have Civ
en- a double impetus to mining in the
Zinc-ead districts. In the Joplin re-
gion old mines are being re-opened,
new shafts are being sunk, and pros
pecting is most active. Smelters are
pushed to capacity operation. The six
months period has been altogether IA
vorabe for zinc mines and smelters,
and the June advance in the price of
lead makes the outlook bright for all
lead mining.
In the minor metals the first Amer
can mine to be extensively operated
for molybdenite has been opened in
| Colorado: tin smelter is reported as
being built in New Jersey; and the
Colorado tungsten mines are working
full handed on full time; an antimony
snelleT Ill NdlllOI ma mas icSuiiSu Up
erations and a new one has been erect
ed in the same state to work California
ores; and antimony ores have been
shipped from Nevada and Alaska The
demand for quicksilver has increased
with the result that the California, Ne
vada. and Texas producers are ex-
pected to work at top capacity.
An unusual feature affecting coal
mining has been the loss of bunker
trade at the Atlantic ports, which is
only partially Offset by increasing eX-
ports. Reports from the west, on the
other hand, show an increase in coal
production over last year, and in the
east the coke output has increased
considerably of late, thus showing at
last the effect of the recent activity
in iron and other metals.
The petroleum production for the 9
months lust closed is believed to eX-
ceed that for the corresponding period
last year. Unfortunately for the pro-
ducers, this increase has not been in
response to a demand expressed in
higher prices. On the contrary the
persistent flood of oil from the Oklaho-
ma fields and from the new pools in
Louisiana and Texas has prevented
any permanent advance in price.
Reports from the surveys western
| offices are in the main optimistic.
Colorado already shows an increase in
gold output over the same period in
normal years, and while the 6 months
has shown no increase in tonnage for
other ores, there has been large in
crease in value, and the present high
prices give the promise of increased
mining activity during the rest of the
year. Utah is expected to reach a rec
ord output and Nevada mines are be-
ing operated at usual capacity, with
new activity on the old Comstock. The
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