The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-09-27

~ price of powder was announce
~ ed on September II, and 1t Is
not likely that the limit has
been reached unless the government
should take hand in fixing the price.
And why should the government not
do so? The government has taken
hand in the steel trade and has Sc
cured an agreement from the great
steel manufacturers to maintain
price far below former figures at
which the products will be furnished
not only to the government, but to
our allies and to the domestic trade.
Why not bring the same pressure to
bear upon the manufacturers of ex-
plosives? There Is no desire to de-
prve them of legitimate profits, but
IL would be absurd to contend that
the periodical advances in the price
are necessary to meet the Increased
cost of production. The prices Of the
usual brands of powder used in min
ing are now practically double what
they were before the war, and this
probably applies to all other classes
of explosives, but this great increase
has not kept pace with the profits
earned by the powder manufacturers
In fact, 1t appears that the periodical
advances in the prices are purely ar
bitrary for the purpose of swelling
the profits and without any regard
whatever to the cost of production.
Since the government has gone into
the business of price fixing, the price
of explosives is matter that should
receive it's attention
Stops Mining Development.
The tremendous advance in the
price of powder coupled with the pre-
Sailing high wages and the high cost
of all mining supplies, is having a
most damaging effect upon mining de-
velopment in this district, and If the
advance continues II is only a ques-
ton of time until mining operations
are limited to dividend paying mines
The large number of development
companies which form such an i'm
portant factor in the prosperity of the
district and give assurance of new
mines to maintain the mineral pro-
duction, are gradually being forced out
OF business by eXhorbtant prices
Most of them depend upon assess
ments levied upon shareholders tt
provide funds for development, ant
with most of them an assessment of
or mills per share does not go Yer,
far in paying for development worl
after buying powder and other sup
plies. The situation has become ser
ious in this district, as it has also il
every other mining district Of thu
west, and 1t will grow worse unless
the government comes to the relief,
Present Prices Of Powder.
The last advance in the price o
pawder is announced in the follow
ing circular issued by the Wallac
Powder company to its customers:
"'rhe manufacturers of high ex
p!osives have announced an advanc
In price, on powder for mining pur
adopt the following schedule on Du
pont and Giant explosives, for deliv
cry from our Wallace magazines, eff
fective September II, 1917.
40 per cent Dupont r. F. Gelatin
Giant V. l.. f. Gelatin (25 and so II
cases); per 100 pounds, in ton lots
$26.75; less than ton lots, $2775.
40 per cent Dupont Red Cross Gel
attn, Giant extra gelatin $50 ID. case
only; per 100 pounds, ton lots, $26.75
less than ton lots $2T75.
40 per cent Dupont Red Cross extra
Giant l.. f. extra $50 h. cases only)
per 100 pounds, ton lots, $2450; les
than ton lots, $500.
GO per cent Dupont l.. f. Gelatin
Giant V. L. f. Gelatin $50 10. case
only), per 100 pounds, ton lots $33,75
less than ton lots, sS4.25.
60 per cent Red Cross Gelatir
Giant Extra Gelatin $50 lb. case
only); per 100 pounds, ton lots, 1887
less than ton lots, s34,25.
60 per cent Dupont Red Cross extr,
Giant l.. F. extra $50 ID. cases only
per 100 pounds, ton lots, s29.50 les
than ton lots, $4,000
30 per cent Stamping powder $50 Il
cases only; per 100 pounds, ton lot
n.