Weekly journal-miner., 1917-01-10

N-ADlA -Nb O-Ns Jan iiN piO duction of copper in the United States in l9l6 surpassed all previous records, assording to the United States Geological Survey, Depart ment of the Interior. Preliminary figures and estimates have been col lected by B. s. Butler, who has re- ceivcd reports from all plants known to produce blister copper from dom estic ores and refined copper. At an average price of about ? cents pound the output for lol6 has val ue of S520,0O0,0O0, compared with S242, 100000 for the output for 1915 and with S1S97oO,O00 in 1913
 The figures showing shelter pro- duction from domestic ores repre- sent the actual production of most of the companies for II iHonths and an estimate of the output for Dec cmber The figures of few com panics for November were not avail able, and these companies furnished estimates for the last two months of the year.
 According to the statistics and csti- mates received, the output of blister and Lake copper from domestic ores was 1,92S,0OO0OO pounds in 1916, against 1,3SSOOO,OOO pounds in 1915, and 1,224,OO0,OOO pounds in 1913
 The output of refined copper (c1- cctrolytic, Lake, casting, and pig) from primary sources, domestic and foreign, for lol6, is estimated at 2,- 3ll,0O0,OG0 pounds, compared with l,6340O000G pounds in 1915 and with l,6l5 5,00G000 pounds in 1913.
 The production of copper from the mines of the United States for l9l6 was more than double that Of 10 years ago and more than four times that of 20 years ago. The pro6t resulting from the domestic produc- ton was far greater in l9l6 than in any previous year. It is probably safe to say that it exceeded $500, ,0OO,- GOO. Foreign Trade and Domestic Con-
 sumption.
 According to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the imports Of all forms of unmanufacturcd cop per for the first 10 months of 19l6 amounted to 397 ,594,OOO pounds This compares with an import of 265,677,- GOO pounds for the first 10 months Of 1915 The imports for the l2 months of 1915 were 3l5,69S,449 pounds.
 The exports Of pigs, ingotS. bars, plates, sheets, rods, wire etc, for the first 10 months of l9l6, as deter mined by the Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic Commerce amounted to 655.H2,0O0 pounds, compared with an export for the first 10 months, of 1915 of 529, ,2S6,OOO pounds. The exports for the l2 months of 1915 were 68l ,9l7,000 pounds
 At the beginning of l9l6 there was about S2,4O0,OOO pounds of refined copper in stock in the United States This quantity added to the refinery production gives total available sup ply of about 2,593,OOO,OOO pounds of refined copper On subtracting from this amount the exports for the first 10 months and the estimated export for the last , months, it is apparent that the supply available for domcs- tic consumption is materially greater than the l,O43,OOOOO0 pounds of 1915. no account being taken of stocks held at the close of the year.
 Higher Prices in 1916.
 The average price of copper for 1916 showed a marked increase over that Of the preceding year, being slightly above ? cents pound, com pared with IA cents in 1915.
 Much of the copper wos sold scv- cral weeks or months in advance of delivery, and ii is therefore probable that the actual average price received differs somewhat from the average of the daily quotations for immediate delivery. The general trend Of the market would indicate that the actual price received may be below that in dicatcd by the average of quotations.
 Record by States.
 Arizona made record production. The total may reach 675,0O0,00O pounds as compared with 4320O0,- GOO pounds in 1915 This exceeds inc total output of the United States as late as 1902.
 Montana, with moro than 350,O00, OO0 pounds exceeded its previous rec ord production of 3l4,oOO,OOO pounds in 1912 This compares with about 26S,0O0,000 pounds produced in 1915.
 Michigan, in common with the other important copper-productiou States made a rCrord OrodrCfIou