The Parker post., 1917-05-12
SPEEDING Up
PRODUCTION
MILLIONS ARE BEING SPENT BY
COPPER MINES OF ARIZONA
FOR PURPOSE OF GREATER
PRODUCTION AND EFFICIENCY.


fciency the dominating cry of the
hour, the world over, the copper
mining organizations of Arizona are
setting a pace that is being equaled
in no other industry in the country.
At the same time the copper pro-
ducers of the state are of their own
volition paying the largest increase
in wages to their employees that has
come about in any industry in the
country. A top of this they are get
ting the highest results in increase
grain, in output of product that is
being attained in any industry.
In proof of these statements, the
Arizona Chapter of the A. M. c. in
current report points to the fact that
Arizona copper output has nearly
doubled since 1914, with but one
important new producer of the metal
added since that time, albeit it is a
big one, Inspiration, with it's 12,
100000 pounds the month at the
present period. The rest of the
gain has been made by producers
with established mines prior to 1914.
United Verde Extension and Magma,
with about 100000 pounds.
These producers have accomplish
ed their gain through the expendi-
ture of upwards Of, 500, 1000 in
new construction and equipment
work They are still busy with ex-
penditures for betterments and eX-
pansiOn steps. One property alone
will spend $4,000 this year in COM
pleting higher efficiency steps which
it has underway. Reference is made
to Miami Copper. Of course, Miami
will earn this money back quickly,
is earning it back now as installation
goes on, the ingenuity of the man
agement providing for the remodel
ing work without interrupting the
operations of the plant as establish
ed. But ever day they are just the
same, getting little additional gain
in efficiency and earnings by reason
of the new equipment they are in
stalling.
Besides large sums which are be-
ing expended this year on new con-
struction and equipment by the es-
tablished producers with operating
mines, mills and smeltcrs, including
Ray, Miami, Copper Queen, c.. & A,
United Verde and others, with these
millions being earned back almost as
rapidly as put in and turned into
larger employment of labor and the
payment of dividends to thousands
of people in Arizona and other thou
sands all over the country, there are
other millions going into the plants
of mines which are erecting works
for the treatment of their own ores,
to the end of larger conservation of
values and greater earnings. Unit
ed Verde Extension leads in this list
with expenditure of probably up
wards of $3,00O,OO0.
Ray Hercules has over hundred
thousand dollars worth of mill
equipment ordered for the treatment
of ore resources which it has devel-
oped and is adding to with further
exploration. This is all aside from
millions of dollars being expended in
new plant equipment in the smaller
copper, gold and lead-silver districts
and in the putting up of operating
plants on many developing proper
ties, total investment reaching as
tonishing proportions and very rap
idly distributed in labor, tax and
trade channels. Its contemplation
quickly explains the great prosper
ity which abounds everywhere in Ar
izona and which is unprecedented in
its annals to any such general extent
as now prevails. The cotton acreage
brought in during the last few
years and some gain in the agricul-
tural area helps, but these factors
are negligible in looking the state
over as whole in comparison with
the enormous gain that metal min
ing has brought about and which in
fact has made the necessary money
available for the development of the
lands Of the state. To such money
the mining industry is adding con-
stantly and without stint. Those
who would farm can get money in
plenty from the mining community
banks, which have always loaned
freely of their funds To the farmers