The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-16

During the first six months of 1917
every effort was made at Idaho mines
TO equal the unusual record Of the
wear 1915. The value of the output in
that year was $4S,767,7S3, and for
months after the close of the year the
prices of silver, copper and lead were
decidedly higher, according to V. c.
Heikes Of the U. s. geological survey,
department of the interior. The ship
ments from the Occur d'Alene region,
which give an idea of conditions in
Idaho. were maintaining the rate of
the previous year. which was nearly
$4,000 tons of crude ore and concen-
trates per month. Greatly increased
output from the Hercules, Hecla. Nor
ming and Bunker Hill mines have bal
anced decreases in the Tamarack &
Custer. Stewart and Last Chance
mines. At the same time the Bunker
Hill custom smelter at Kellogg Is now
nearing completion, and the first ore
has been shipped to this new lead
plant. The plant at Northport, Wash,
continues to treat the lead product of
the Hercules mine at Burke, in addi-
ton to custom material.
Gold.
In 1916 the value of the gold produce
ed, largely from Boise, Gilmore, Idaho
and Lemhi counties, amounted to ST.
1880. There was a decrease in the
output of gold from placers, and an
increase in that from deep mines OPP
erations at Atlanta. in Gilmore county,
and at Burgdorf, in Idaho county, are
adding to the gold production.
Silver.
The output of. silver in 1916 was
12.3OO,S73 ounces, valued at $SO93,974.
Shoshone county supplied the greater
part, and mines at Gilmore in Lemhi
county and Mackay, in Custer county,
made UP most Of the remainder. If
the present rate of shipment Of ore
continues, this quantity may be ex-
ceeded in 1917, and the value will be
greater, as the average price of silver
increased from 658 cents in 1916 to
about rs cents in the first part of 1917.
The Hercules mine at Burke, is by far
the largest producer of silver in the
state the gross value of the silver ana
lead output in 1916 having been ST.
l.
ing, Bunker Hill, Caledonia and Green
Hill Cleveland produced nearly IS per
cent Of the total silver in 1916. and
the first three mines are making heav-
Ter shipments in 1917.
Copper.
The copper output in 1916 was 81
47S,2S1 pounds, valued at $2,0S5,657, OF
which over 65 per cent came from
Custer county, largely from the EN-
pire property. In Shoshone county
the Caledonia, Richmond, Horst Pow-
ell and National produced copper ore
and concentrate. In 1917 the Rich
mond is becoming a large shipper 1r
Custer county activity in the Aldel
creek district is notable. The Copper
Basin has become a good producer o.
copper ore and the Empire is beint
opened for greater production from
the lower tunnel, but shipments earl.
In 1917 have not reached the rate O.
1916. which was more than 5000 ton:
per month.
The output of lead in 1916 was 375,
O81,781 pounds, valued at $2b,SS0,643
This rate has been upheld during tn
first half of 1917. and, with a bette
price and new lead smelter, the ship
ments may be increased toward tn
end Of the year. The Hercules ma
materially increased shipments. Tn
monthly average of crude ore and con
centrates in 1916 was over 1900 tons
In Lemhi county, which produced IL,
2O8,9S5 pounds of lead in 1916. tn
shipments in the early part of 1911
were less, but at the Idaho Contin
entail, in Boundary county, they in
creased. The Homestake- Cope
Queen property, near Mackay, has be
come an important lead producer, an
the Blue Bird mine. at Clayton, Is
have a concentration mill.
Zinc.
In 1916 the shipments of zinc an
lead-z zinc ore and concentrates con
tanned S6,5O5,219 pounds of recover
able spelter. An average of abou