The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-01-04
NEW YEAR HOLDS PROSPERITY
FOR MINING INDUSTRY.

The past year was one of unparal-
leled prosperity in the mining indus
try, due to the necessities of the war
ring nations of Europe, The demand
for zinc lead and copper took no ac-
count of price, and the market quota
lions have stood at figures far above
the optimistic dreams of the most Wis
ionary operator. In reviewing the
enormous profits which have come to
the shareholders In base metal mines,
together with the increased wages to
employees and the vast disbursements
Incidental TO operation which have
reached almost every avenue of trade
reached almost every avenue of trade,
there is rift within the lutte"
that mars the harmony of the pros
perity chorus that swells from every
mining district from the Canadian line
to the Mexican border. While we
revel in wealth drawn from Europe in
exchange for our metals, and engage
in q riot of speculation in mining
shares, we can not dispel from our
minds the spectre of devastation, des-
olation and death that stalks over the
nations of Europe and casts it's omin-
Gus shadow upon the sympathetic
heart of every civilized nation. We
can not check his course, nor should
we if we could until he who is respon-
sible for this world catastrophy has
been made to pay the penalty of his
foul deed and rendered powerless to
again scourge the world in furtherance
of his consuming ambition but we
can and should contribute with more
liberal hand toward the relief of the
helpless millions who have been strick-
EN- by the ravages of war while the
same force has brought to us the other
extreme of prosperity
How long these war prices of metals
win continue no one knows, nor issit
matter of vital concern to the mining
industry Under normal market con-
ditions the producers of lead, zinc and
copper earn large profits, and If the
war should end tomorrow it is the
opinion of the best authorities that the
prices would remain above normal for
period OF years, and that in any
event the year just beginning will wit
ness a continuation of the prosperous
condition that now prevails The re-
building of Europe is expected to
make market for the metals equal
to the demands of war, while the DOM
este demand, in spite of adverse laws
and an administration that lacks pop
ular confidence is certain to assume
greater importance when the demands
of war are satisfied, The enterprise
and energies Of the people for more
than two years have been directed to
supplying munitions to the nations of
Europe. These will turn to peaceful
pursuits when peace is restored which
will have an immediate beneficial eff
feet upon the domestic market for the
metals.
So the people of the mining districts
of the west are justified In looking
forward with confidence not alone to
the present year, but to future years.
Mining has grown in public confidence
until IT is today ranked with other
high class investments by conserva-
tive business men. This is due to the
clean and capable management that
now characterizes all important min
ing operations and the reasonable GER
tainty of large profits following such
The Miner takes this occasion to
send a message of good will to its
many readers and friends, many Of
whom have been added to the list dur
ing the past year The Miner has
shared the prosperity which has been
the good fortune Of the people of this
district. and in wishing all a happy