Graham guardian., 1918-01-11
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ARIZONA MINING NOTES
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use of explosives, is as serious a
matter in point of violation of
law as is the possession of liquors.
Penalties provided are severe.
Some arrests have occurred in
the larger districts, where men
have slipped powder from the
mines for the purpose of doing
work of their own. Their in
nocence of intent to use the eX-
plosives against the government
has not prevented their prosecu-
ton, upon which the Federal
government is insistent. All per-
sons should make sure that they
have a properly issued license
from the district supervisor of
powder before they permit eX-
plosives of any kind to come into
their possession.
Investigation has disclosed that
less than 3 per cent copper ore
cannot be mined by the smaller
operators anywhere in Arizona
with profit, with copper at % l-2
cents. Very few of the largest
producers are able to handle ore
of lower content than 3 per cent
with profit. Most of the small
operators are compelled to mine
and ship better than 5 per cent
copper in order to make 23 1-2
cents pay. If the copper price
should be cut below the present
price of % 1-2 cents, those oper-
ators now mining 3 per cent ore
for the greater part would have
to raise their average to a per
cent or quit work; those now
managing to get by with a per
cent ore would have to raise to 5
per cent. Some could and some
could not do this. There are
more than a few properties in
the State which were obliged to
shut down when copper fell be-
low 26 cents.
Small operators are finding
greater labor ease than ever be-
fore at this time of the year, be-
cause of the fact that assessment
work is not required and that the
hundreds of miners employed on
this work in previous years are
free for regular employment this
year. Miners of this class are in
the large majority of cases found
during all of the months of the
year, except January and Decem-
Der, in the employ of the COM
paratively small operating mines.
They are semi-prospectors and
do not care for and in many in
stances cannot efficiently handle
the work of the large mines,
while doing admirably in the en-
ployment they prefer.
The most important point in
December records of mining in
Arizona, as shown by reports re-
ceived to date, is considered to
be the increase in efficiency.
With smaller operating forces in
the Warren district, for instance,
record production was made of
copper. Many of the men who
came to the mines in strike dis
tricts of the State during the
summer from the agricultural
sections and without previous
experience in mining, have be-
come proficient operatives, with
from three to five months prac-
tlcal experiecne. Efficiency in
mill and smelter work is attained
in even less time.
Arizona has furnished many
miners to the engineering divis-
ions in the ranks of the Allies in
Europe. Hundreds more are
eager to go, most of these men
beng beyond draft age and only
await opportunity. A cablegram
sent to a Bisbee miner recently,
asking how soon he could assem-
be forty skilled miners to under
take work in the fighting zone
under his direction, was an
swered in less than an hour with
the terse words: They're as
sembled.
Upon price fixation and inter-
pretation that may be agreed
upon as to the income tax law
provisions affecting mining, will
depend the extent to which in
vestment can fairly be antici-
pated in new mining enterprise
during this year. Present indi-
cations are that investment will
be much curtailed and that those
concerns which are in possession
Of sufficient funds with which to
go through development cam
paigns which have been decided
upon, are highly fortunate. Many
not in so good a position will be
obliged to either shut down or
greatly curtail their operations.
The same condition will in large
measure, apply to oil enterprises.
In some instances. in both min
ing and oil, where complete finan-
cling cannot be managed, all hold