El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-15
MINES IN TEN
C0UNTIESL0SE
New Mexico Commission
Reports Producing Mines
Losing Money.

Santa Fe, y. NJ. Nay 15.-Au pro-
dueing mines are not necessarily prof
liable mines. That is brought out by
figures compiled by chief clerk Ru-
pert F. Asplund. OF the state tax com
mission Mines in ten counties last
year produced S1.05O.223.74 in ores
and coal. but it cost S1,34s.16L45. The
loss was S2s7. s3T.71- Yet, these mines
must pay taxes on surface improve
ments and it is an open question
whether they can't be assessed on
their mineral acreage. Mckinley
county. for instance. has coal mines
that produced s501.565.S5 worth Of coal
last year, but at an allowed cost OF
sSO7. 5OO.S5. or a loss Of s206.035- On
the other hand. It had mines that
produced sSs9.57276 in coal at
profit OF Sl3S.Os5.Os. the cost being
S761, 477.6s. But altogether. it did not
pay to mine coal in Mckinley county
last year. despite the popular notion
OF immense profits ia coal mining.
More Favorable in Grant.
In grant county. due to the opera
lions OF the Chino and other big cop
per companies. the showing is more
favorable. and yet there were mines
in Grant county last year that pro
duced s2S5.62S.49 worth Of ore and did
10 at a loss OF S47,189.49, for IL took
S332.S17.9S in allowed expenses to
produce the quantity Of ore. How
ever. there were mines. mainly copper.
in Grant county that produced S25,-
S77.369.S9 worth OF ore at a cost Of
only s12,o17. 205-73. leaving a taxable
net production OF s1S.S60.164.l5, which
is not all profit by any means.
Dona Ana county mines produced
SSs6-93 worth OF ore at a cost OF
$500.
Colfax county is one Of the counties
where all the producing mines made
a profit. for a total OF S7.9T0.00S.52.
was produced at an allowed expendi-
ture Of S5.407.54L32. leaving 70 be
even that is a modest return. for from
1t must be deducted many charges not
allowed by the tax commission.
Luna Mines Pay.
Luna county produced 49, 1902
worth OF ore at an expense OF SIS
$3.50. leaving a net product Of
s2.5S4-2z- Lincoln county had no mines
last year that showed anything on
the profit side. Ore to the value OF
s1S.SS407 was produced. but IL cost
; 23.f4S-31 TO produce it. leaving a net
deficit Of S4.61A22, without adding
The incidentals.
Some Profit in Ofero.
Otern county produced sI19.7S3.11. Al
an outlay OF $1O5.7sS.5s. leaving a net
n Sl5-99f.55 for taxation. while So
1858 was produced at Al expense OF
'55,146-71. or a loss Of S7975-SS. Rio
Arriba county produced SS457 at =
cost OF S539T.75. leaving a net OF
1908. and S219-51 at . cost OF SS21-50, I
)r loss OF S6O2.09.
SOcorrO county produced S2211.107-- :
-. at an outlay Of S1.6i3.71157, ieav- /
nE a net product OF S597.3s5.S2
Torrance COUNTY produced SS4S5.55, :
Il sn outlay Of s5O40.S9. leaving a net
" SS443-56, and produced S762I47. at ]
J cost OF S8526-45- OF loss OF S905-26. I
Taos county produced S224S.l9. at q i
'ost Of s22S6-06. a loss OF S4e-Sl.
10000 O00 Below Government Report. I
Altogether. according TO the reports !
lied with the state tax commission /
lnde- oath the state last year pro /
.uced S3S.I14.361 in coal and ores
his is considerably less than what I
he United States geological survey
eports. but the tax commission re-
'Orts under oath and Uncle sam.
therefore,. must be mistaken 10 the I
xtent Of more than S1O.00O.00o. The
let production that is taxable is sI7.-
03.S19-05- derived from q gross Of
3s.664.137-26. on which the expenses
llowed total s20.360.31s.21. ore and
GAL TO the amount OF sf.050.22
vas produced at a loss for the ex-
ensss allowed amounted 10 $685.
SITS, leaving a deficit OF s297,-
3I71.