The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-01-22
LAST YEAR A GOOD ONE FOR NEVADA

In a review of mining in the United States in 1915,
prepared by P. E. Barbour for the Mining Journal, it
is pointed out that all estimates of mineral production
in the United States for 1915 indicate that it has been the
most prosperous year in the history of mining. The
gross output will probably be found in excess of $780,;
100000. The year has been marked by record produc-
tions in both copper and zinc and, owing to the war, in
the semi-rare metals also, such especially as tungsten.
Iron mining did not reach the total of the 1913 activities,
but fell short of the production of that year only.
The industry has been subjected to profits and not
altogether wise legislation and to a considerable amount
of labor unrest, based largely on the miners conception
of an unfair distribution of profits; has witnessed a note
worthy boom in Arizona gold mining; has seen developed
from obscurity the country's third largest zinc producer;
a wild. countrywide scramble for tungsten ores; one ter
rible accident; the blowing-in of two new large copper
smelteries, and has seen the entire mining world go
"flotation mad"
With regard to conditions in Nevada during the
wear lately closed, Mr.. Barbour says:
Labor and wage conditions throughout Nevada
remain practically without change. A threatened
strike at Ely, owing to an edict for compulsory
physical examination of employees by the Nevada
Consolidated, was finally averted.
Except for the larger companies which had
longtime s1iding-scale contracts, the zinc-or mar
ket has been rather restricted, but for these COM
panies their ores have been marketed at a very
considerable profit during the high price of
sDelter. Following the increased activity IN Cold
field and surrounding country, the Western ore
Purchasing company reopened its sampler at Gold
field. thus affording a quicker and more convent
ent market for the small shippers of gold ores.
Motor trucks are d~isplacing wagon transporta-
ton wherever roads will permit, but IN districts
like Aurora and Fairview bad weather compels the
laying up of the motor truck and the return to II
and I6-horse and mule teams for %freightlng. The
Aurora haul is 6I miles. Motor haulage has not
always lessened transportation costs, however, ow-
ing to poor roads made worse by increased heavy
traffic.
An incipient boom followed the discovery of
free gold in a bold outcrop at Willard, a few miles
from Love1ock, and a small mushroom tent city
sprang up. The boom died a-borning, however,
and the camp is now all but deserted. The search
for good prospects, both for the precious metals and
rare metals, is becoming keener, but no important
discoveries have been made except in the case OF
tungsten. The greatest activity in this has been in
the Snake range, in the eastern part of White Pine
county. Four mills are operating, concentrating
scheelite and hubernite. In the vicinity of the
United States Tungsten company's property. II
miles south of Osceola, both north and south of
their mill a great many locations have been made,
the discovery work on these claims invariably
showing tungsten ore. Probably 800 men are
working on tungsten properties in the county.
The review, which includes a considerable amount
of Information in addition to that quoted above, affords
evidence that the mining industry in Nevada is in a flour
ishing condition and gives promise of placing TIE state
in the front rank of mineral producers.