The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-12-28
CLOSING YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF GREAT
PROSPERITY IN THE MINING INDUSTRY
EMPLOYEES RecED BIG INCREASE IN WAGES DIVIDENDS MAKE
NEW RECORD AND BUSINESS IN ALL LINES HAS HAD
LIBERAL SHARE IN THE GOOD TIMES.

The year just closing has been by
far the most prosperous in the history
of the Coeur d'Alene district, and this
applies not alone to the profits earn
ed by the mines, but to the people OF
the district in general. High metal
prices following the beginning of war
acted as an immediate stimulus to
mining activity both in the matter OF
increasing the output of old mines and
the development of new ones. Had 1t
not been for the enforced idleness of
two large producers for several months
increase in the tonnage mined and OF
course a corresponding increase in the
profits. The value of the gross output
of the mines will probably be upwards
of $40,000,000 and the dividends will
not be far from $11 100000. But these
figures do not convey an idea of the
real prosperity of the district In which
all the people share. The most not
able event in this eventful year was
the voluntary advance in wages of all
employees of the mines, based upon
the average price of lead each month.
This sliding scale became operative in
February and at once added from SO
cents to 81 per day to the wages of
every employe. With few exceptions
the increase monthly was 81, making
miners wages $3.50 per day. Business
in every line has felt the stimulating
effect of the prosperity in the mining
industry, and the year 1915 can be
viewed by all citizens of the Coeur
d'Alene district as one in which there
was enough prosperity to go around
and in which all have had a share.
AS Viewed by the Mine inspector.
A few weeks ago Robert N. Bell,
state mine inspector, completed his
annual inspection of the mines in the
Occur d'Alene district, and upon his
return to the state capital gave flat
tering report of the conditions as he
found them here. He places the out
put of lead for the past year at 25,-
000 900 pounds, and says that the pro-
duction of the larger mines has been
speeded up to take advantage of the
high metal market and are now maxi
ing the record output of their career
and showing greater promise of future
permanency than at any time in the
past, in their deep bottom levels.
This is particularly true of the Her
cules Hecla, Morning and Bunker Hill
and Sullivan mines. The Tamarack &
ducers in the field, was out of COM
mission by the loss of it's mill lease
since last August. This company
succeeded, however, in purchasing one
of the most desirable mills and mill
sites in the district at Frisco in Can
yon creek formerly operated by the
Federal company; has connected this
plant by new aerial tramway two
miles long and expects to be again in
commission and producing SOC tons of
ore a day by the 10th day of January.
$10,Oo0,o00 in Dividends.
The figures of output for 1916, says
Mr.. Bell, are not nearly complete, but
he estimates, from available informa-
tion at hand at this date, that they
will aggregate fully as much as last
year, total fully $4O,OO0,O0O in gross
value with more than $1O,00O,0OO in
dividends.
The prohibition question, says Mr..
Bell, has worked to the decided ad-
vantage of mine operatives and its
rigid enforcement is responsible, he
thinks, for a big reduction in the usual
list of mine accidents this year as
compared with former years.
Interested in First Aid.
Mr. Bell says the big companies are
taking a keen interest in safety first
methods and in educating their men
as fast as possible along these lines,
especially in the matter of first aid to
the injured. In taking care of an in
jured miner underground, several hun
!, dred men have been trained under the
direction of experts, at the different
big mines. Some competitive teams
!; have been developed that have shown
! wonderful ability in this line of eff
! fort