The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-07-08
America Produces 80 Per Cent of
Worlds Silver Output

Viii silver be called forth as a re-
habilitated money metal when the war
ceases? This question is engaging
more and more the attention of finan-
ciers and mining men as the feverish
demand for gold and more gold con-
tinues. There may be over production
in other commodities but there has
never yet been enough or the yellow
metal in sight to meet the demands of
commerce and finance. The visible
supply at hand will be far too short
to make an impression when the war
ceases and readjustment gets under
way. What then will happen? win
the world look to the silver resources
for relief? Silver remains down, while
other metals have taken their skyward
flights. viii the general trend carry
the white metal to unheard of prices
and bring into bearing many of the
great silver ore bodies which years
ago played such important parts in
the history of mining operations?
Ancients Desired Silver.
From ancient times, says a mining
report, to the present day, the Chin
csc, Hindus and other orientals have
regarded silver as the noble" metal
That is to say that, aside from the
matter of medium of exchange with
other nations, over half of the worlds
people prize silver more highly than
gold.
The metals perfect metallic hustre
is probably its most important physl
cal property, as this gives it value for
purposes of ornamentation 1t is also
the most malleable and ductile of all
metals with the exception of gold ore
gramme, which is about the size OF !.
very small shot, can be drawn into
wire 1870 yards long, and the Leaf can
be beaten to a thickness of .00025 nil
limeter. In hardness it is superior to
gold, but inferior to copper. Its ther-
NAL conductivity is greater than that
of any other metal, and it is also the
most perfect conductor of electricity /
The production of the metal eonsti- I
tutes one of the largest and most i'm I
portant mining industries, which is in /
turn second in importance to agricui-
ture. Since 1850 the output has in l.
creased from around 25,O00,0O0 ounces
annually to 215,000,000 ounces, the in /
crease being in a large measure due
to the use of improved scientific meth
DDS. over so per cent, or approxim-
ately 175,000,000 ounces, is derived
from Mexico, United States and Can
ada, who rank, under normal condi-
tions, first, second and third, respect
lively.
The use of silver in the arts and
crafts has increased very rapidly dur
ing the last 20 years, the commercial
consumption of the world being est-
mated as follows 1894, 25,0OO,O0O
ounces; 1904, 6O,000O0O ounces; 1914,
115,000,000 ounces. The consumption
for coinage purposes although averag-
ing less than formerly, is still very
large, requiring approximately 10O,-
100000 ounces annually. The Euro
pean war has, of course, by its inter
ruption to industry, reduced the COM
mercial consumption and this conIi-
ton will doubtless prevail until the
end of the war. The war, however, =,
has not and can not permanently al
ter the consumption, and ultimately ,
normal conditions will be reestablish-
ed. 1t is, moreover, likely that the :
use of the metal for coinage purp 1ses !
will be very largely increased, and it :
Is admitted that the various govern ,
ments will probably be forced to sub
stitute silver coins for the immense :
amount of paper money that is now
being put in circulation in the belli- :
gerent countries. ,
Americas silver mines, as previous :
and among these the following are
known the world over: Nipissing. Bel
Stewart, Mines Company of :
Kerr Lake, Tonopah Mining, E
Iron Blossom, Coinagas, Silver King, 4
Crown Reserve and Tonopah Extern y
sion. These properties have already
paid stockholders an aggregate of APP
$75,O00,000 in dividends
and, on the basis of present prices and
dividends, they are now re- .
turning an average investment yield of =
20 per cent
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.