The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-03-25
MINING SITUATION IMPROVES.

Better prices for the metals with
prospect for steady market. along
with favorable weather conditions
without precedent in this district, are
having a most beneficial effect In the
Occur dAlenes. For many weeks the
high price of spelter which still main
tains, has caused the zinc miners to
crowd production to the limit of ca
pacity, and In some instances orders
have been given 10 increase milling
facilities in order to take further ad-
vantage of the strong demand which
Is expected to continue for a year and
probably longer This condition has
created an unusual demand for zinc
properties and 1t is known that
strong companies are seeking invest
ment In mines of this class. This Sit
uation has given strong impetus to
development of new zinc mines, and
the success of these operations gives
assurance that zinc Is destined to be
for many years great and growing
factor in the mining operations of thu
district.
one of the most gratifying features
of the metal market during the past
few weeks has been the steady ad-
vance in the price Of lead, and the
final advance last week to figure
that warrants the prediction that the
normal production of the district will
soon be restored. Early last fail one
OF the large producers closed down and
about the same time several others
curtailed their output in order to re-
tain market even at q figure which
reduced the profits to q narrow margin.
This condition prevailed during the
winter and until few weeks ago,
when lead began to move upward and
II has now reached point AT which II
is believed by well informed operators
1t win remain ana which will justify
resumption of normal production.
Copper has also advanced steadily
and has now reached satisfactory
price. During the past few weeks most
Of the large copper producers which
have for many months been running
on a so per cent basis have increased
their output to 60 per cent and even
better. which inspires the hope that
before long there will be a normal de-
lnand for copper. While copper has
never been big factor in the min
eral production of this district as
compared with lead and zinc, the re-
storation of the usual demand will
soon place copper in a position of
great Importance in the Occur
d'Alenes. There can be no doubt of
the existence of great deposits of cop
per ore of commercial value and
market is all that Is needed to make
them productive.
Along with the beneficial effects OF
the improved metal market is also
observed a renewal OF activity OF de-
velopment companies, Assessments
are being levied for the purpose of re.
Stunning operations after period Of
idleness during the winter months, and
these smaller operations play a most
important part In contributing to the
prosperity of the district.
Altogether the mining situation in
the Occur d'Alenes is In a most sat
isfactory condition, and the feeling Is
everywhere in evidence that we are
approaching period OF good times
The European war makes the market
for the metals now, and when 1t ends
It Is expected that the demands Of
peace will for time be greater than
those of war, In the meantime the
home market will have been restored,
and that Is what we must ultimately
depend upon for permanent prosperity