The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-01-26
A RECORD OUTPUT FOR ARIZONA
 MINES
Output of Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead
 and Zinc, in State of Arizona
 Reaches Big Total During Last Year
s2o3, ,ooo,ooo IS THE
 VALUE OF PRODUCT
Copper Leads in Production by Long Odds, While Gold is Second-Others Form Considerable Amount.

The output of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc from mines in Arizona | in 1916 had record total value of nearly S203,O00,0OO, compared with | $90 0,0O6,349 for 1915, according to the estimate of Victor c. Heikes, of the
 United States Geological Survey, De partment of the Interior. The notable output of copper and the high prices of metal both assisted in this increase of 123 per cent. There were record productions, also, of gold, silver, cop per, lead, and zinc.
 The production of gold from Ari- zona mines increased from $4, 166, ,025 in 1915 to approximately $4,427, ,000 in 1916, an inrcease of over 5 per cent. The production of gold from copper ores in most counties was naturally greater than in 1915, but there was a marked decrease in the output of bullion from amalgamation and eva hide mills, particularly in Mohave and Maricopa counties. Several new gold mines were added to the list during the year, especially in the Oatman camp, Mohave county, but the pro- duction was not sufficient to offset the decline in the output of the older properties. A new 200-ton mill was being completed for the United East ern property, and considerable ore was opened at the Big Jim and Gold Ore mines.
 The production of silver from the mines increased from 5,649,020 ounces in 1915 to a record output of about 6,S23 900 in 1916. As the market price was much higher, the value in- creased from $2,S64 ,053 to nearly $4,- 490,000, an increase of nearly 57 per cent in value. There was no great change in the production from the Commonwealth property, which is principally a silver producer, so the increase is to be credited largely to the remarkable output of copper ore.
 The mine output of copper sur passed all records and estimates, as it increased from 59,972, ,295 pounds to approximately 693,000,000 pounds in 1916 The value of the output, on account of the unusual market, in creased from $S0, 0,495,152 to nearly S190,000, 0,000. The increase of 135 per cent in the value of copper alone in Arizona was therefore more than the value of the total output of the state in the previous year. All the smelting plants of the state were worked at full capacity and made much greater oh1plhShCS Ol SOpPCI Du1llOh. hC plant at Sasco, in Pima county, was again operated and made large con- tribution. The Inspiration mine was milling nearly 100000 tons in August and was producing 11,000,000 pounds of copper, an output that made it one of the largest producers in the state. The Ray Consolidated. Miami, United Verde, and United Verde Extension made great increases. The Swansea property, in Yuma county, made a larger output, and a large teaching plant was being constructed at Ajo, in Pima county.
 The mine production of lead increas- ed from 21,738,969 pounds in 1915 to record production of over 26,000,000 pounds in 1916. The value of this output increased from $1,021,73 to S1, ,76S,OOO, or 73 per cent. The Cop per Queen and Shattuck Arizona mines, in the Warren District, and the Tennessee mine, in Mohave county. continue to contribute thSlargest part Of the lead OutDut