The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-09-26
SHONTS INVESTIGATES
EAST OREGON CHROME
IMPORTANT DEPOSITS PROVE
PROFITABLE WHILE WAR
PRICES PREVAIL.

Sidney l.. Shonts, mining engineer
OF this city who was commissioned
by the government few months ago
to investigate and report upon the
chrome deposits of Idaho and eastern
Oregon. returned from the latter sec
tion a few days ago where he had de-
voted about three weeks to the work
assigned to him. His observations
were practically confined to Grant,
Baker and WilloWa counties in the
northeastern part of the state. The
production of chrome in eastern Ore
gon dates back about two years and
is due directly to the high price ere
ated by the war demand, and unless
special inducements are presented by
the government to protect the indus
try and encourage production, the end
OF the war will probably witness a
quick decline. The uncertainty of a
profitable market discourages pros
pecting, and for this reason Mr..
Shonts is of the opinion that the gov
ernment should fix a price for the
mineral for a definite period as a
means of encouraging prospecting and
production.
Oregon an important Producer.
According to the geological survey,
hn tnta - l.,
the United States in 1917 was 43,725
tons, and OF this amount Oregon is
credited with 600 tons, being second
t. California, which produced 36,700
tons. The chief producers in eastern
| Oregon, Mr.. Shonts says, are in Grant
county although important deposits
OF chrome ore are found in Baker and
| Willowa and with proper encourage
nent they would assume "a position
of importance. The industry at pres
ent centers around Canyon City, Prai-
placer camps in Grant county. These
oregon counties have already pro-
duced this year about 1000 tons and
it is estimated that during the re-
naming three months Of the year the
output will bring the total up to prob
ably $4,000 tons. Most Of the produc-
ers are from 10 to 20 miles from the
railroad, and a few are 40 miles. The
freight from the shipping point to the
eastern market Is SIG, which was
about the price Of the metal before
the war and which explains why there
was no production prior to the war.
The price now ranges from 500 to $40
per ton, depending upon the grade of
the ore, 500 for 80 per cent ore and
$40 for 60 per cent, with intermediate
prices according to the grade. Net re-
turns to eastern Oregon producers in
two years amounts to about $500.000.
Uses Of Metal.
In addition to the domestic produc-
ton Of chromite in 1917, as given
above, imports of the metal amounted
to 72,O63 tons. In 1916 the imports
were 1853 tons, the decrease being
accounted for in the shortage of ships.
This drop in imports explains the ur-
gent activity of the government in its
efforts to increase the domestic sup
ply. The foreign supply of chrome in
1916 came from Canada, Greece,
French Oceanica, Australia, British
South Africa and Portuguese South
Africa. In 1917 Greece and Australia
were eliminated altogether as q
source Of supply. The metallic uses
Of chromite as given by the geologi-
cal survey. are in the manufacture
of steel for munitions of war and for
furnace lining in the form of crude
ore or chrome brick The chemical
uses are in the manufacture of BIZ
chromate Of soda, bchromate of pot
ash, chronic acid and chrome alum
which are employed in the manufact-
ure Of dyes and pigments and fol-