The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-07-01
YEAR is GREAT
FOR THE MINES

mands and good prices have furnish
ed the mine operators with full op-
portunity for success In working de-
veloped properties, and this In turn
has given added incentive and avail
able funds for exploration, prospect
ing and experimentation with the
new processes. The mining man Is
having his innings"
Summarizing the special reports
which are now being made public,
Director Smith continues his review:
New Record.
The returns for six months furnish
a basis for the belief that 1916 will
set up a new record for the soft-coal
mines Every coal-mining state is
sharing in this prosperity and OF
course this demand for coal is to be
traced back to the increased business
of the railroads and Of the steel and
other large industries.
Drilling activity throughout the
oil producing states has brought
about a gratifying increase in pro
ductlon Of crude oil that promises
to make 1916 record year for mar
kcted petroleum.. Already production
and consumption are reported by the
surveys specialist as essentially In
balance east of the Aocky mountains,
with a tendency to lower prices.
The Portland cement industry has
had busy six months and the man
ufacturers are optimistic. 1t is pre-
dicted that in both production and
shipments of cement this year will
show a gain over last year, If indeed
It does not establish new record
for cement.
Among the metals copper Is con-
tinuing the steady increase in pro-
duction which began early last year,
and the forecast for 1916 indicates
not only the largest output ever
known but also the largest profits,
Ore Shipments.
Shipments Of iron ore from Lake
Superior points for five months of
1916 exceeded by more than eighty
per cent those for the same months
in 1915, and the indications for the
year are favorable for new high
record on iron-ore production, and
of pig iron as well. Higher prices
with steady demand are stimU-
lating the mining of manganese, with
the result that this years output Of
ore is expected to surpass the large
production of last year.
The lead and zinc mines are pro-
ducIng ore at q rate even exceeding
that of last year and the prevailing
prices have made possible the work
ing of large quantities of low-grade
ore.
Most precious metal mines are OPP
Grating at full capacity. The gold
production will probably fall below
the high yield of last year, but silver
the one metal last to benefit by the
general domestic prosperity, is eX-
pectcd to break all previous records.
In quicksilver the outlook is for
n continuance OF the output of 1915,
which was the largest for several
years. Thus far in 1916 the aver
age price has greatly exceeded the
1915 prices; and although the reaC-
ton in prices has come, conditions
are favorable for steady and profit
able operation Of the quicksilver
mines, some of which are newly OPEN
All Optimistic.
The reports from the surveys
western Offices are all optimistic. In
Arizona mines and smelters are work
ing at high pressure, and the produc-
ton of metals already shows an in
crease that promises to make the
value of the output nearly double
that of last year. Arizona will main
tain first place as a copper producer.
New Mexico is continuing its rapid
progress as a metal mining state,
with Increases in its output of lead,
copper, zinc, gold and silver. The
mines of Colrado in the six months
lust past have shown some changes
in output as compared with last year;
an increase of thirty per cent in cop