The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-03-01

highest years output in the history of
the state. The metal contents of the
mineral and bullion shipped, from sta
tistics available, is as follows:
Lead 1856, 594 900 lbs.
Zine ........ ......... 9S,700,740 lbs.
Copper ..... ........ S,052,725 lbs.
Silver .... ......... l2,205, 132 oZs.
Gold ........ 5S,079 ozs.
Tungsten ore ......... lzo,ooo IDS,
These figures are based on the gross
metal contents of the ore as shipped
without discounting for loss in smelt-
ing, which is a variable amount and
hard to determine and to some extent
made up with by-product recoveries
that are not paid for by the smelters.
These figures maintain Idaho in Sec
ond place in lead production and a
close second in silver production
among the states of the Union and are
splendid endorsement of the pro-
gress and permanency of the mining
industry of this state
Dividends and Wages Increase.
The estimated dividend distribution
of the year aggregated about $ll,5oo'-
90. which is more than the total out
nut of the state as recent as 10 years
ago, and was credited to IA mines, OF
which are lead-silver and zinc pro-
ducers in the Occur d'Alenes, and in
south central Idaho, situated in Boise,
Blaine, Custer and Lemhi counties and
included one gold one copper and 3
silver lead producers. That the diVi-
dend distribution was not larger was
due to the fact of enormously increas-
ed operating costs, including labor and
material The chief operators of the
north voluntarily increased the pay OF
their large army of employees on
sliding scale based on the average
price of lead in New York for each in
crease of half a cent pound above
cents, and during the closing months
of the year this bonus amounted to $l
per day, which was applied to the
wages of all classes of labor. including
Office hands engaged or connected
with the mines and mills.
This increased pay as a profit shar-
ing bonus, by virtue of the high metal
prices enjoyed by the operators for
their product, aggregated over ST.
500, 900 in the Occur d'Alene district
and with the increase in wages it
stimulated in small and non produc-
tive operations, in that and other dis
tricts of the state, would easily ac-
count for total added distribution of
$4,000. 900 during the year paid to Ia
Dor account in addition to the normal
wages in the opera tion of Idaho mines
The year 1916 will, | think, mark the
entrance of Idaho into the field OF
tallurgical progress in manner
that is likely to prove of vast indus
trial Importance to the further pro-
gress of the state. During the greater
part of the year the entire product of
the Hercules mine was treated and
reduced to bullion in a new smelter at
Northport, Wash, just over the Idaho
line that was purchased and operated
by the Day brothers and other Hercu-
les owners in connection with silver
refinery, also under their control, at
Carnegie, Pa, to which point the base
bullion was shipped for final separa-
tion.
This plant will also care for the
production of the Tamarack Il Custer
Consolidated mine, controlled by the
same interests, during the coming
year.
Bunker Hill smelter.
At Kellogg, in the Occur d'Alene
district. the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
Mining company in June commenced
the construction of very complete
and up-to- date lead silver smelling
and refining plant of 1000 tons daily
capacity. This big plant has given
employment to 200 additional men
since June. Its construction had as
sumed definite shape at the close of
the year and its completion and oper-
alton Is quite definitely forecasted for
the early spring of 1917. This big in
stallation embraces the most modern
and complete equipment of its class
ever installed in the west and should
prove a very important factor in the
further progress of the Occur dAlene
district and an encouragement to the
prospector by affording home mar
ket for his mineral product and should
greatly reduce former freight costs on
crude smelling ore to its customers, as
understand 1t will handle custom ore
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