The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-01-06
Prosperous Year for the Mines of
the United States

The midyear review of mining con-
ditions reported to the secretary of the
interior on July by the director of
the United States geological survey is
well supported by the preliminary re-
ports for the year submitted today.
The geological survey Is making pub
lic its usual estimate of mineral pro-
duction for 1915 in the form of sep
arate statement for each of the more |
important mineral products.
Big Increase in Western States.
review of these statements con-
firms Secretary Lanes comment last |
July to the effect that the mining re-
vival is in full swing. In the western
states alone the metal production
shows an increase in value Of more
than $1S0,00O,000 over the correspond
Ing figures for 1914; and the years in
crease In output for the principal met
ais measured In value is more than
$3.50. 900. Moreover II is not I'M
reasonable to expect that when the
full returns for all mineral products
are compiled they will show that 1915
was the country's most productive
year In the mining industry. The to-
tai may even reach two and half
billion dollars.
In the response to bettered condi-
tons the production figures for cop q
per, iron and zinc show the largest in =
crease, /,
Copper Beats All Records. 0
The copper mines passed all records II
for previous years, the 1915 output q
having value of $236,OO0,000 or $685. N
100000 more than the value of the II
production for 1914. The statistics and 81
estimates received place the output of p
blister and Lake copper at 1,S65,5OO,- 10
600 pounds or more than 10000 900 al
pounds In excess of the largest pre- pl
vious production and Is per cent above al
last years figures. Only twice In the tn
history Of copper mining has there
been larger increase in quantity of
metal produced III
Large Increase in Iron. M
The total shipments of iron ore All
from the mines In the United States in
IN 1915 are estimated to have exceeded or;
$50 900 gross tons, an increase over ra,
1914 of more than 3S per cent. Based ca
On the same price as received In 1914 ce,
this represents an increase in total liz
value of about $27645,OOO. The in los
crease In pig iron is estimated at g. in
100000 tons, with total increase In ba
value of pig iron production of more %,
han $12O,O0O,OOO ~
Zinc Records Also Broken. mr.,
The output of zinc (spelter) made nA,
rom domestic ores was larger than va.
yer before being about $4,000 tons on,
worth $120,00O,0O0 as compared with raj
43,41S tons In 1914 an increase of -
bout $4,000 tons or nearly 25 per cent
? quantity and Of $S5O0O,OO0 in value.
reduction was increasing during the
litter half of the year. as the produc-
ION during the first half was at the /
ate Of $4,000 tons annually and at err,
ne rate of 10000 tons during the last the
alf bri,
Value of Lead Increases 20 Per cent. par
The output of refined mig lead from for,
omestic ores was about $4,000 tons OF
orth about $4S,500,000 as compared rhy
18th 512,794 tons in 1914, an Increase sail
only $500 tons in quantity but of COW
100000 or 20 per cent in value The mer
'oduction of antimonial lead was 90 whc
Q tons as compared with 16, SOS tons wor
1914, an increase of 1882 tons or 2s will
r cent in quantity and an increase has
value of nearly 100000. enjc
Gold and Silver Increases. says
The annual preliminary estimates on are
g production Of gold and silver in tue
United States, made jointly by the
llted States geological survey and
e bureau of the mint, are not vet It's
nlplete, put early figures based or Wht
ports from the mines indicate an IN IT.
ease in mine production over that of
L Of over $7,O00,00O in gold, princi Yet
ny IRON Colorado, California, Alas Whe
Montana and Idaho, and an in AL
'ase in mine production of silver of
~ 100000 ounces, chiefly from
ntana, Utah and Arizona. This in It's 4
ase in gold production may bring
s up to the record year of 1909, (B
en- the gold output of this country
8 nearly $10O,00O,OO0. III /
Quicksilver Makes Good Record.
quicksilver has also had its best That
r in 1915. The quantity increased
per cent over 1914, but the value Of
output more than doubled owing
he much higher prices. The estim-
production was 20,6S1, TASKS of Fahe
pounds EACH valued. at the aver Do,
price for the year-the highest in Each
last 40 years-at $1,76S,22 In All
re, this domestic production was Got 4
highest since 1881 and in quantity We
iarsest since 1917. Each
Small Changes in Coal. MAJ
he production of bituminous coal
anthracite in 1915 is estimated to Somel
increased between and million Son
7 tons, or less than per cent The Trouh
ltity of bituminous coal mined in The
sed about s. u million tons and Guns
Of anthracite decreased over Sho