Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-04
Silver Production of the United States
 and the World

The recent changes in the world $ demand for silver and consequent ad- vance in prices are of special interest to the United States, which is now the
 worlds greatest producer of silver.
 Prior to 1914 our neighbor Mexico. produced more silver than did the United States. but at present our
 production of the white metal is dou-
 ble that of Mexico, and much greater
 than that of any other country.
 A compilation by The National City
 Bank of New York shows that the
 silver production of the United States
 is now double that of Mexico and
 three times that of Canada, which
 holds third rank among the silver
 producing countries of the world. Of
 the 172,3S3, 900 ounces of silver pro
 duced in the world in 1916 the United
 States produced 2,S33, ,00O ounces or
 42 per cent. of the worlds total. while
 20 years ago, in 1896, we produced but
 37 per cent. of the world production.
 which in that year was 157,O61 900 ounces. Tn that 20-year period, 1896 10 1916, the production of the United States has increased about 14 900, 900 ounces, while that of other parts of
 the world has increased but about
 1000. 900 ounces.
 The worlds chief producers Of si1- yer are the United States, Mexico. Canada, Peru, Japan, Spain, Australia United States having produced in 1915. for which figures of all coun- tries are available 74961 900 ounces. Mexico, S9.57o.Oo0, Canada 2s,4O1 900, 4,565, 900. Australia 3327O world total 179,574,0O0. In 1916, for which returns are not yet available for many of the smalle.- countries, the produc- tion of the United States was 72.- sS4,0OO ounces, Mexico 35,O00, 900, Can ada 25,500. 900. and the worlds total 172. .3S4 900 ounces
 In the distribution of our surplus silver a very large roportion goes to Europe. the remainder chiefly to the Orient. In the fiscal year 1916, the latest for which complete figures are now available, we exported $53.172. 900 worth of silver of which 1,032, 900 went to England, $S2400O0 to China and Hongkong and s1,3s5,OOO to South America. We also exported In that year s6,420, 900 worth of foreign siI- yer. out of total of $34 154.00 worth sent to us chiefly from our near Mexico, South America and Canada, part of it coming in the form of ore and a part as refined bullion. Most of this is sent to us because of cur superior smelting and refining facilities. and also because the Uni ted States the worlds largest pro- ducer of silver has special facilities for marketing that product in other parts of the world. In the fiscal year | 1917, for which II months figures are | now availa ble. the value of silver ex- tcIiSO was dDOuI SIO.UOb-UbD, SllShtlN axcAeding in value that of any earlier i year. The exports of 1917 are thus | 3 bout s25,000, 900 in excess of 1916. | about one-half of this increase hay | ng gone to Europe and the remainder | 10 the Orient.
 World production of silver has ma | erially declined since the beginning | of the war. The total output in 1913, | he year immediately preceding the | var, was 223. 3.90o.000 ounces, but drop fn n 1915 and IF, 2,3s4,0O0 in 1916. the decline occurring in countries other han the United States. our own pro- 'uction having been in 1913. 66,so2. 900 ounces. in 1914, 72, ,455.000. in 1915. 4.961,000 and In 1916, 72.SS4, 900 unces.