The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-07-06
MINERAL OUTPUT OF IDAHO FIRST HALF
Of 1916 LARGEST IN HISTORY Of STATE
DIVIDENDS FROM coEuR DALENE MINES THAN $6oooooo
NEW SHELTERS AND MLLs-LARGE SHIPMENTS OF ZINC
AND LEAp-coPPER ALSO INCREASES

lplAl1GIIiS HUN Ipcu1 u EAleit
for the first half of 1916 amounted to
more that $4,000, 600 and all indications
point to the last half being equally
prosperous Even IL the average prices
of the metals-lead, zinc and silver
are not as high, the increased pro-
ductIon will probably offset the diff
ference and maintain the dividend
payments on the same basis that has
prevailed during the first six months
of the year and possibly make a better
showing. The large profits and gener-
ally favorable indications that metal
prices will be maintained for a long
period at high level have given
great impetus to development work
throughout the district. This has al
ready been rewarded by the addition
of new mines to the list of producers
which will swell the output, while
the outlook is most favorable for the
addition of others before the year Is
out. One of the most notable feat
ures of the mining industry in this dis
trict during the year is the addition of
new mills for the treatment of lead,
zinc and copper ores. The largest Of
these is the Jefferson, designed
for both lead and zinc, and which will
be in operation within another month.
The Empire mill, on the Little North
Fork, Is now successfully running on
copper ore. The Silverado company,
near Osburn. will soon have flotation
mill completed to recover lead and
silver and the Constitution on Pine
creek has plans for a mill designed
for the recovery of lead and zinc and
which will be running before snow
flies In addition to these the Chi
cago- Boston company, on Lake gulch,
expects to have a flotation plant in
operation this fall, and it Is possible
that there will be some other addi-
tions to the milling facilities Of the
district
Large Lead Shipments.
The prosperous condition of the
mining industry in the Coeur d'Alene
district is also in evidence in practi-
caIly all parts of the state where
mining is factor of Importance
Commenting on mining in Idaho dur
| ing the present year, recent state
ment issued by the geological survey
says that unusual conditions in Idaho
make it impossible to estimate accur-
ately the lead output of the state, but
shipments are being made at the rate
of about 360,000,000 pounds of lead a
year. There will be a corresponding
! ly large output of silver and a great
increase in the total value of the
states output of metals. This state
ment is based on reports received by
the United States geological survey
from its field office at Salt Lake City.
Some of the large mines in Idaho are
greatly increasing their shipments,
notably the Hercules Hecla and Nor
ming. The mines of the Coeur d'Alene
region are shipping lead ore and con-
centrates at the rate of over 10000
tons a month, and zinc material at
the rate of over 5000 tons a month.
Blaine county has added little to the
lead output, Lemhi county is far be-
low the record of former years. and
the Wilbert in Fremont county, is
also producing somewhat less.
New SmeIters and Mills.
Important changes are in progress
in the metallurgical industry. The
Hercules ore and concentrates are
treated at the plant at Northport,
Wash, where two lead furnaces are
III operation and two more are to be
built. Preparations are also being
made to build a lead plant at Kel-
logg for treating the ore of the Pun
ker Hill & Sullivan mine as well as
custom ore. New mills are being con-
structed for the Ray-Jefferson, Hypo-
tbeek, and Idaho Continental, and one
is planned for the Tamarack & Gus
ter. AS prices have become better,
wages and dividends have been great
ly increased.
Copper Increases.
Though the Snowstorm mine Is no
longer a producer the output of cop
per in Idaho is progressing at bet
ter rate than in 915, largely on ac-
count of increased shipments from the
Empire property at Mackay. Other
shipments came from the National,
Caledonia and Richmond. A mill was
constructed on the Little North Fork
for the Horst Powell property.
Big Shipments of Zinc.
Shipments of crude zinc ore and
concentrate indicate a good increase
in the output over that of 1915. The
Consolidated Interstate Callahan has
shipped over $4,000 tons of zinc ma
terial during the first quarter Of 1915,
a figure that indicates a rate of more
than 51,O00,O00 pounds of spelter
year for that mine alone. The Sue
cess, Frisco, Green Hill Cleveland and
Morning contributed considerable
amounts, and the Terrible Edith Con-