The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-11-16
ADVANCE IN PRICES Of MINING STOCKS
DUE TO BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR METALS
ABNORMAL DEMAND coPPE INSURE HIGH
PRICES FOR AFTER WAR ENos-MlNNe
OFFERS LARGE PROFIT Ts-sAFE INVESTMENT.

The tremendous earnings during the
past two years of the lead, zinc and
copper mines of the west, and the GER
tainty that they will continue during
the European war and for a long time
thereafter while the warning nations
are readjusting themselves to peace
Iful conditions, has attracted invest
ments in mines and mining securities
to an extent that has seldom If ever
been equalled, Mining stocks Of all
classes are experiencing boom which
promises to continue indefinitely free
from influences due to the attitude of
the national administration or the pol
itical complexion of congress which in
ordinary times has a direct bearing on
the mining industry. Europe must
have the metals to carry on the war
and she must have them when the war
ends to rebuild the wreck and ruin
wrought by the great conflict, The re-
Icent large order for copper for deliv-
cry to the allies during the first half
of next year conveys an idea of the
enormous consumption of the metal,
and shows that no serious considera
ton is being given to proposals for
peace. There is no surplus copper
and the current demand at home to-
gether with preparation to supply the
orders from the allies will effectualiy
prevent any accumulation of stocks in
spite of the great and ever increasing
production. The price of copper has
now reached 81 and 32 cents and
shares in copper mines have advanced
to figures heretofore unknown.
Zinc.
| The demand for zinr follows lose in
the wake of copper, for the war de-
mand for both metals is largely for
the manufacture of brass. 1t is this
| that holds the price of spelter strong
/ ly at or above 10 cents and the pros
pect for holding the metal at that lev
ell is just as firmly established as the
position of copper. The large in
crease in the production of zinc to-
gether with the absence of a wide
spread demand for the metal in times
of peace such as enjoyed by copper,
prevents a phenomenal advance in the
price of zinc stocks in keeping with
the profits being earned. However, the
European demand insures prosperity
for zinc miners for a long period, and
the electrolytic method of zinc re-
duction promises to reduce the cost to
a point that will permit the profitable
operation of mines which would be
closed down under normal conditions
if dependent upon the old smelling
process. This applies particularly to
western zinc mines which will be the
chief beneficiaries of the electroytic
process. From this viewpoint the out
look for zinc is highly satisfactory and
investors in zinc mines have no cause
for anxiety.
Lead.
The lead producers are sharing the
war prosperity enjoyed by those of
copper and zinc and as an investment
proposition the shares in lead produc-
ing mines are not excelled by anything
In the mining line. Unlike zinc, there
has been no great increase in lead
production from new sources, the in
crease being due almost wholly to en-
larged output of established mines.
The United States produces only a
little more lead than is consumed at
home under normal conditions, and the
only adverse condition the lead min
ers have to fear is that normal condi-
tions will not prevail when the Euro
pean demand for their product ceases.
For many weeks lead has been quoted
at cents and above per pound, a
price that is squirting production to
the limit and bringing fabulous pro-
fits to the fortunate owners of lead
shares.
Mining investments the Best.
The conservative east seems to have
experienced a rather tardy awakening
to the fact that conservatism in in
vestment is not necessarily confined to
| 5 or per cent earnings and that min
ing as conducted in these days is on
safe and sound business basis, offer
ing much larger returns while being
safeguarded by the application of
business principles such as are prac-
ticed in the management of all large
and successful business enterprises
MINING TIMBER.