The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-02-12
COPPER SUPPLY AND DEMAND

In view of the increased interest III the copper stu
on and the prospect that Goldfield will profit material
en- advanced prices for the metal, local readers will fiji
,od for thought in statistics showing the disposition tn
made OF this country's output OF copper andsndlcatli
,c influences that are likely to sustain the price tor
ldcfinite period. The following information, supplr
Y he Mining and Engineering World, encourages t
that there will be no abatement III the demand
roD in the price of the metal:
From the east comes the pleasing information
that new inquiries have been made Tor approximate
" 20 100000 pounds of copper for delivery prior to
Tune |. about equally divided between domestic
and foreign customers. France has been the best
buyer for foreign account during the past TWO
weeks and continues III the market Tor a large Ton
1ape. Italy has indicated that more metal IS need
ed. Russia has not been heard from since the mid
lie of 1915, when large purchases were made from
The American Smelling and Refining company and
others, one lot being for 25,oooyooo pounds and a
,econd amount estimated at 100000 pounds.
The open quotation of American producers with
7 ondon offices has been raised to III pounds.
equal to 25 Is cents. New York. So lnslstent has
become the demand for certain deliveries that pro-
ducers in some cases refuse to quote openly to do
nestic customers. Large amounts OF March-Apr1l
copper are required. but as producers have little
available for those months they prefer to Withdraw
from the market temporarily and be of possible as
s,stance to their regular customers should occasion
arise.
The expansion in demand and values for copper
are the most pronounced in years, and the present
status Of absorptive capacity indicates that most OF
the huge output ol copper i SoHiS lhto AoioihP
ion, according to an official of the National Con
duit and Gable company, Increased use of the
metal began to manifest itself months ago, and this
feature of the situation is responsible TOR the extra
ordinary display of strength in the market. a the
sqme time it is very obvious it will require, I'm
2bated consumptive demand to maintain valuks at
the present level. The market has cut loose from
normal conditions, and if it is to rest on a solid
t>undation it must be supported by a vigorous de
mand equal in volume to nearly 90 per cent of cur
rent output.
Sales during the last 30 days make up an i'm
Dressive total, and it is these substantial transac-
tons which have given apparent justification to the
Gardening movement of prices. There is, however.
langer of CARVING the upward tendency forward
too aporessivelv. There is no doubt but 1916 will
witness redoubled activity at mining centerS. It con
fusion and unsettlement are to be avoided it will
hc absolutely necessary to give persistent attention
to maintaining a healthy equilibrium between sup
n1v and demand. Since the former custom OF max
ing monthly reports OF production and stocks on
land has gone out of fashion the trade is without
this official data upon which some intelligent opin-
ion of the situation might be based.