The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-01-21
IDAHO RANKS SECOND
N SILVER PRODUCTION
WAR PREVENTS SMASHING OF
ALL FORMER RECORDS
BIG OUTPUT FOR 1914.

The domestic production of silver
again reehed high mark in 1914. The
preliminary estimates of the United
States geological survey and the bur-
eau OF the mint indicate an output OF
67,929.700 fine ounces, valued at $37-
225,000, but the final figures may be
somewhat lower, This was again one
of the greatest outputs since the dom
este production of silver began, ae-
cording to II. d, McCaskey of the Y.
S. geological survey. In 1912, 1913 and
1914 the highest record outputs Of
to the varying yearly prices for the
metal, the value of the output has
frequently in the last rs years ex-
ceeded the value of any one recent
year.
/ Increases in mine production of sill
yer were notable in Idaho, California,
and Arizona in 1914 and large de-
creases were recorded in Montana
Utah, Nevada and Colorado.
I Nevada retained first place in output
Of silver in 1914, but early figures
from the mines indicate a decrease in
production of over 100000 ounces. The
Tonopah, Nevada Hills Nevada Won
der Rochester and other mines We're
active producers.
Idaho ranked second in silver pro-
dactiun in 1914, with an increase in
production of about 100000 ounces,
making record for the state. The
great lead-silver mines of the Occur
d'Alenes had particularly productive
year.
In Montana the silver output fell off
more than 100000 ounces, owing
resulting mainly from the European
war but also in part from labor con-
ditions at Butte.
Utah ranked fourth in output, but
the yield declined. The bulk of the
silver produced was derived from sill
yer bearing lead ores of the Tintic dis
trict, but Park City, Bingham and
other districts contributed. The yield
from copper ores of the smaller mines
decreased with the curtailment of the
copper yield.
Colorado ranked fifth in silver pro-
duction, with a decrease of over 400,
900 ounces, and Arizona ranked sixth
with an increase of about the same
quantity and a record output,
Low Prices Discouraged Silver Miners
Low metal prices and disorganized
markets in the latter part of 1914 es-
pecially, and curtailment of copper
output owing to the European war
made the year a difficult one for pro-
dueers of silver. But for the inereas-
> ed yield of siliceous silver ores at Ton
opah and in Arizona and the silver
lead-zinc ores especially at Butte ant
: in the Occur d'Alenes, the silver yielt
would have been greatly decreased;
and but for the European war the do
nestle silver output would have broker
all records in quantity of output, a.
least.
I Demands for silver from India ant
J China was disappointingly light ir
1914, and London stocks accumulated
: resulting in poor market New Yorl
: prices, reflecting these conditions
were generally law, especially in the
: latter half of the year. For fine bal
G silver the price averaged SIS cents in
January, SIS in February, 5S in
March, 5s5 in April, and 5S.1 in May
o In June it dropped to 565. in July tc
= 547, in August to 643 in September
= to 1913, in October to SOL and in No
, vember to 491. The average for De-
. cember was about 49.4 cents and
r therefore the general average for the
. year was only about 54.8 cents, or the
l lowest since 1911.
D Imports of Silver.
e The imports of silver in 1914 were
valued at $25,331, 900, as estimated
> from the records of the bureau of do
I nestle and foreign commerce. The
! exports were valued at $5O,5OO,OOO, oil
$ $25,169,O00 in excess of the imports
: In 1913 the excess of exports over i'm
ports was $269OS,S12.
! The imports of silver in 1914 were
= as usual. chiefly in ore and bullion and
mainly from Mexico, which supplied
: $14, 10000 in silver, and Canada
which supplied $5657OO