The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-08
All in United States Running at
Full Capacity.
Gold Output of q. S. Largest In
Nations History.
TOTAL IS 1O1 MILLION
Silver Output Shows Increase
of 2 Million Ounces.
Philippine Precious Metal Out
put Cuts Important Figure.

washington, July S.-The precious
metal mining industries continued &C
tive during the first six months OF
1915, practically all important mines
and mills operating at full capacity
according to a statement just issued by
the United States geological survey.
Shortage of cyanide supplies, reared IN
1915. was obviated by increased ouS
nut of domestic sodium cyanide, WnicIi
has practically replaced potassium
cyanide in the teaching OF precious
metals. FIotation has begun TO m
crease saving of gold from talhhss.
There NAV have been some decrease IN
gold prospecting during the last elghl
or ten months, as many old gold pros
pectors have been giving a..en'lu ,i;o ~
deposits of tungsten, antlmony, Qulck-
silver. and other mineral products
whose value has enhanced since the
outbreak of the war. There was aiso
some labor shortage at mines ana
mills owing to high wages paio IN rae
tories making war supplies.
Gold Output Up Million.
Final figures of the geological sur
yey and the bureau Of the mint give q
total domestic production for 1915 OF
s1O1, 035,700 in gold, and 1921 ~ o
ounces of silver valued at So 1887, 5OV'
against $94,531.S00 In GOLD ana
455,100 ounces of silver IN iSI4-
These figures include the gold produc-
ton of the Philippines. which mas peen
steadily on the increase.
The total output both of gold AND
silver reported for 1915 was the nign-
est ever recorded under the American
flag, but If the Philippine output De
eliminated the production OF gold IN
the United states proper was but little
above the previous record year OF
1903, The output of silver for Isl
was materially above the preceding
record yield of 1914. For 1876, from
the midyear point of view, the output
of gold which is apparently raining OH
somewhat as compared with 1915, IN
Colorado. California, Nevada, and
some other states, and increasing pos
sibly in Arizona, oregon the Pnllip-
pines, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico,
and elsewhere, will probably reach
total somewhat below the high output
of 1915. The production OF silver,
however, will undoubtedly again break
all previous records, as the output OF
silver ores and of the "copper" lead and
zinc ores which produce silver in nota-
BILE quantities will exceed that of any
preceding year, owing to steady de-
mand and high prices for all metals.
Prices of silver were low in the
greater part of 1915. The monthly
average commercial price at New
York which rose to about 81 cents ar
ounce in November, however, reached
| SIS cents in December, and climbed
,, steadily to over IA cents in May, 1916
but fell to about 65 cents in June. The
sharp increase in prices resulted from
strong demand for the far east at the
end of 1915 and abnor 1nally large re-
quirements by the belligerent coun-
tries for coinage for the troops in the
field These demands found available
stocks low, largely because of the
great falling off in the Mexican output
due to the long continued disturbance
there. With the consequent inevitable
rise in prices domestic producers OF
silver profited greatly. notwithstand
ing the increased cost of labor and OF
mining supplies. Silver Is in demand
not only for coinage but also for ster-
ling and other silver wares. as well as
for drugs and chemicals. The manu-
facture of silver salts used in photog-
raphy, particularly in films for hand
cameras and cinematographs, has
vastly increased in recent years The
midyear outlook indicates continued
demand for silver, the metal last to
benefit by the general domestic pros
perity.