The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-01-05
METAL PRODUCTION DOUBLED
AND VALUE ALMOST TREBLED
In Past Two Years. Washington on the
Eve of Great Mineral Devel-
Opment

Because of the mining possibilities
in this state. the surface of which has
only been scratched, the millions
added to the nations store by other
states, where for some reason the min
eral wealth has been recovered more
promptly, must give US heart to con-
tinue the search for the wealth hidden
in the Cascade mountains.
The following facts are taken from a
recent government bulletin:
Ten mines in Arizona paid $34, 900,
900 ing ngdividendsSduring the past year.
Adding Utah, Montana, Nevada, and
Idaho dividends 10 those of Arizona we
have a total Of over 500, 100000 in
dividends paid out OF the mines of these
five western States in single year.
These are sons sof the impressive
facts brought out by the report OF the
Geological Survey to Secretary Lane
just made. Never BEFORE" said Mr..
Lane. has so large draft been
made on the natural resources OF our
country az during this year, and never
before have the metals been extracted
from these ores with less waste or
utilized to better advantage in advanc-
ing the general prosperity OF the
country. Even as written in the plain
figures OF 1916 production the wonder
full record OF our mines sets forth
degree OF national industrial independ-
ence only hoped for few years ago.
Again copper stands out as the best
illustration OF how American mines can
meet a world demand. The output of
nearly 0 billion pounds Of the red
metal is double that OF ten years ago
and its value is twice that of the copper
produced in 1915. Add to this the
facts that in value copper now contends
with iron for first place among the
metals and that together the amount OF
these two metals produced last year
had value OF more than one billion
dollars and we have a measure OF what
this country can contribute in useful
metals.
The output OF zinc from domestic
ores Increased last year $4,000 tons,
which makes a new record for that
metal, the total value OF spelter from
United States ore being $50 million
dollars. Lead also shows large
increase, the IS million dollar output
being a gain OF more Than so per cent.
With all this activity in metal
production the coal. mines have had
to meet heavy demand, so that
the bitumnous coal soutput has now
passed the half billion ton mark, an
increase OF II 1a cents over the
previous year. Cokel production in
creased 80 er.cent and it is gratifying
to note that by-product coke made the
largest gain, which means correspond
ing gain in benzol and other valuable
by products.
Again the oil wells have given new
record for petroleum weld, the estimate
of marketed production of crude
petroleum for 1916 being 292 million
barrels, or II million barrels more than
in 1915.
Another mineral product which
furnishes an index Of business
conditions is cement. the 1916 pro-
duction OF which is estimated to be 5
million barrels in excess OF the output
OF the previous year, While the snip
ments were even greater, aggregating
o4,5OO, 900 barrels, with the outlook
reported as good for the new wear.
The reports received from the
Surveys western Offices contain most
significant mining records. Every
western State shows large increase in
yield OF metals, Arizona leading with
gain OF 100 million dollars over last
year, while Utah and Montana together
report another 100 million dollar gain.
Alaska also had its best year, conribut-
ing a total value OF more than $50, 900,
900 this year. or over SO per cent in
excess OF any previous year.
These advance statements not only
show that 1916 marks a new advance