El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-22
PAY S30,000,000
YEARLY IN TAXES
Large Producing Copper
Companies in Arizona
Bear War Burden.

Bisbee. Ariz., May 2e.-With Is
large producing copper companies in
Arizona paying IN aggregate tax Of
se.5OO. 600 the month, or sS0.o0o.00o
the year, there is a broader idea
given of the service this industry is
rendering the national government in
the present war period, entirely aside
from investments II Is making to the
extent OF millions Of dollars in the
Liberty loan and the further invest
ments il is enabling in this loan on
the part OF dividend earning share
holders
Bear Another Big Tax
The figure Of s2.5Oo.O00 the month
fixed for taxes is approximate The
actual amount being paid probaoiy
well exceeds that total, in which Is
included state tax and the Iederai
war tax. Il is expected that the lat
fer will increase. Aside from TINS
COMPULSORY government tax, the cop
per producers are bearing anotnsr
big tax, self imposed and voluntarily
offered. This tax is represented IN
the present difference OF about 10
cents the pound between the current
market price quoted for copper ana
The average price over period OF
ten years, 16 and traction cents,
AT which the producers are selling
the government sucn OF theIf ou'Pu'
as IL REQUIRES
During April the allotment to the
different Arizona producers OF their
shares in government copper at tne
reduced price amounted to something
more than 16. O0O. 600 pounds. Had they
received the full market price. their
earnings would have shown some
thing like s2,4eO, 000 more. Thus IT Is
fair to saw that April taxes, Volun-
tarv and imposed. paid by Arizona
copper producers in aid OF the gov
eminent under present conditions OF
stress amounted to practically S9'-
100000.
Beyond the assistance given IN cash
however. is the importance OF the
metal being furnished the govern
ment and It's allies. Copper is abso-
| I1ifeIv essential TO the making of
cartridges and shells, and these are
the things that cannot be sklmped IN
war. Copper is also receiving enorm-
Gus war usage il the conduct OF com
munieation lines and In the operation
OF every land and sea motor and en-
CINE. Present increasing plans for
ship construction and the heavy gam
! in usage Of copper this VIII call
/ for IS giving producers and traces
/ consumers occasion for serious pause.
I There are no surplus GAUNh1 VI NA-|
metal anywhere. while the larger
number Of the big producers are ac-
tually behind with their deliveries on
/ contracts. although operating mines
and reduction works at top capac-
ity.
Must Have Abundant Labor.
/ The only hope Of the Industry IS :
continued and undisturbed supply OF
labor, from which il cannot give
much to the fighting arms OF the
government men for either land OF
sea service without decreasing Us
outputting capacity. The work II
either mine or reduction plant is moi
of a kind that the green man car
pick I'd and get away with efficient
". experience in all departments De-
ing more OF an essential than re-
quisite in the general run OF WorA
in any other industry
Production increases.
Arizona copper production tni'
I month is running AT the rate OF more
( than 100000 pounds. as compared
with better than 100000 pounds II
AprIL Ten smelrers are operating
fun capacity outputtins this tonnage
Eleven great concentrating plants ars
in ful1 operation OF the l. large
copper producing properties, six are
shipping direct smelling ores The
rest are making use OF the mills q
/ reduce. the ore before sending Il e
{ smelter. The total pay rolls attending
the states copper production this
month will reach more than $4,000.
900. Labor in every division Is De
Z ing paid high wages little under
I the wages Of last month. because OF
! lower average market price for cop
! per, but practically so percent above
I the wages paid in the first half OF
I 1915. No more increase in the cost Of
/ living has occurred than in other
parts of the country. Indeed the gain
has on the whole been less, II Is
claimed.
Living Expenses
This is particularly true in asso-
citation with the living costs OF IN
married men. comprising the larger
part of the working population Board
/ has continued available to them in al
Of the mining districts at 81 the day
at boarding houses and in restaurants
where such rates formerly prevailed
With companies providing board and
| room service for such OF the men as
desire it, the old rates Of s3s to sit
the month are still operative. The
/ living costs OF families have advanced
I only propOrtionately with the costs
I everywhere in the country Rental
I charges made by individuals owning
properties have advanced as they
have everywhere, but the mining
/ companies have not advanced rents
where they own housing accommOda-
/ tons. Ray affords a notable example
/ of this. Notwithstanding the advance
in building materials OF all sort and
h labor, the Ray Consolidated in the
| last year has erected a number OF
/ new modern cottages and added these
! to its renting properties at the nom
/ inal price of S12 the month.
\ Miners Wages.
4 Present wages are established upon
/ the basic wage which prevailed with
I the metal price at low ebb in the
\ first part OF 1915 and during all OF
! 1914 This basic wage was different
/ in the several producing districts
\ governed by local varia lions in haz-
! ard OF employment, rigor OF work
\ skill Of labor required, living condi-
| tons, etc To the basic wage the
\ copper producers added a schedule
I OF advances of a certain percent In
| wages with each advance in the price
| of the metal, the latter TO be figured
/ from the general monthly average
/ price of all copper sold, this average
l price to govern the next months pay
/ This schedule was adopted by all OF
I the producers and continues IN ef-
I feet. although since its adoption tbs
| producers have shouldered large IN