Arizona republican., 1916-12-10
By Ernest Douglas.


 JEROME, Ariz.. Dec. 9.-But for the shortage of freight cars the United Verde Extension would be earning one million dollars month, net
 As it is. the November earnings of the richest copper mine in the world were a paltry sS00.000. The company won't be able to make it's extra Christ mas dividend more than sl a share. It has l,050,000 shares outstanding and has paid two quarterly dividends of 50 cents
 According to the last quarterly divi- dends statement of the United Verde Extension 1t had been earning at the rate of $600,000 a month. After the statement was issued the production was increased materially. For a long time during early November the daily shipments were eight and nine car loads of 25 per cent ore.
 In the last two weeks however. the car shortage has affected the U. V. Extension severly. often no cars are spotted" for the Extension till 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Some days the total shipments are only three or four carloads
 Since the ear shortage began to be felt the Extension force has dwindled by twenty and Is now little less than zoo men. When a man quits no one is employed in his place.
 Las months shipments contained 4- 000.0O0 pounds of copper. As the average copper content was around 25 per cent. this means that 5000 tons Of ore were shipped. All went 10 the two Douglas smelters and to Humboldt. No more shipments are being made to the r.Ia
 The present monthly outpct of the nited Verde K about 5000. 900 pounds of copper The Verde district. there fore k contributing each month g. OOo, 900 pounds to the worlds supply of red metal.
 Without materially increasing it's force the Extension could increase it's monthly production to 5.000.000 pounds and earn round million dollars Only the car shortage prevents.
 There is every reason to believe that the Extension will be able to increa se lls production soon. perhaps even be- yond the 5000. 000- pounds a month mark. but will be able to smelt it's own ores.
 IL has been generally supposed that the Extension company would be at the mercy of the smelters and railroads un- til its own contemplated smelter in the Verde valley. could be completed. To build that plant will require no less than two years Of time from the day construction is actually commenced and the plans are not even complete.
 Recently. however. President James \. Douglas opened negotiations to lease the smelter at Swansea. Arizona. which has been idle for several years because of litigation. Al slight expense the Swansea plant can be put in shape Co treat 1000 tons of ore day.
 Two weeks ago the deal had practi- cdfly fallen through. Now it is un- derstood on the best of authority that negotiations have been renewed with bright prospects of success.
 If the Extension succeeds in leasing the Swansea shelter it's smelling prob lems will not only be solved but it will no longer be affected by the car shortage
 Involved ln the deal for the smelter K the twenty seven mile railroad from Bouse. on the Arizona & California railroad. to Swansea In fact it is un- derstood that the Extension could have had the shelter some time ago had it's officers not insisted on controlling the railroad as well.
 That railroad Is well equipped wit ore cars. IT the Extension company carries through the Swansea deal it will have it's own shelter and it's own rolling stock for the 3O0-mle haul Definite announcement regarding au extra Christmas dividend is expected any day by local Extension stockhold- CTS. Inside information Is that the dividend Is to be Sl q share.