The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-07-13
GOLD AND SILVER 1916
LATTER SHOWS INCREASE
GOLD HOLDS ITS OWN WITH 1915
SILVER FROM COPPER,
LEAD AND ZINC ORES.

The precious metal mining indus
tries continued active during the first
Fix months of 1916 practically all i'm
portant mines and mills operating at
fun capacity, according to statement
just issued by the United States geo.
logical survey Shortage of cyanide
supplies, feared in 1916 was obviated
by increased output of domestic sod :
um cyanide, which has practically re-
placed potassium cyanide in the leach
ing of precious metals. F'lotatiOn has
begun to increase saving of gold from
taillngs. There may have been some
decreases In gold prospecting during
the last or 10 months, as many old
gold prospectors have been giving at
tentlon to deposits of tungsten anti
mony, quicksilver, and other mineral
products whose value has enhanced
since the outbreak of the war There
was also some labor shortage at mines
and mills owing to high wages paid In
factories making war supplies.
Final figures of the geological sur
vey and the bureau Of the mint give a
total domestic production for 1916 of
$101 ,035,700 In gold, and 74,961, 076
ounces of silver, valued at $37 ,397, 800.
against $94. 1881, 800 in gold and 72,455,-
100 ounces OF silver in 1914. These fig
ures include the gold production of the
Philippines. which has been steadily
on the increase.
High Record in 1915.
The total output both of gold and
silver reported for 1915 was the high
est ever recorded under the American
flag, but If the Philippine output be
eliminated the production of gold In
the United States proper was but lit
tie above the previous record of 1909,
The output of silver for 1916 was ma
terialy above the preceding record
yield Of 1914 For 1916, from the mid
year point Of view, the output of gold |
which is apparently falling off some
what as compared with 1916, in Colo
RADIO California, Nevada and some |
other states, and increasing possibly |
In Arizona, Oregon, the Philippines,
Idaho. Montana, New Mexico and else
where, will probably reach total
somewhat below the high output of
1915 The production of silver, how
ever, will undoubtedly again break all
previous records, as the output of sill
yer ores and of the copper, lead and
zinc ores which produce silver in not
able quantities will exceed that of any
year, owing to steady de-
mand and high prices for all metals.
Outlook for Silver.
Prices OF silver were low in the
greater part of 1915. The monthly
average commercial price at New York
which rose to about 50 cents an ounce
m November however, reached IS
cents in December, and climbed stead
ly to over "a cents in May, 1916, but
ELL to about SIS cents in June The
sharp Increase In prices resulted from
strong demand for the far east at the
md OF 1915 and abnormally large re-
luirements by the belligerent coun- 3
ries for coinage for the troops in the
leld. These demands found available 9
locks low, largely because Of the great I
alling off In the Mexican output due a
o the long continued disturbances d
here. With the consequent newt /,
BILE rise In prices domestic producers
I silver profted greatly, notwith- a
the increased cost of labor II
nd of mining supplies Silver is in n
emand not only for coinage but also v
Or sterling and other silver wares, as g,
'ell as for drugs and chemicals. The ",
of silver salts used In n,
photography particularly in films for
and cameras and cintematographs, n,
rs vastly increased in recent years. Inn
he midyear outlook indicates contin- VI
ed demand for silver, the metal last r,
} benefit by the general domestic h,
=,