The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-12-12
PROTECT LEAD AND ZINC MIN
ERs FROM COMPETITION.

The sudden termination of the war
has brought the lead 0nd zinc pro-
ducers face to face with very seri-
Gus situation. 1t is not merely
question of a reduction in the price OF
the metals, for that has long been an
ticipated as natural consequence of
a return to peace and the restoration
of normal business conditions. We
have heard much of the European de-
mand for metal during the recon-
struction period, but 1t is possible and
even probable that this demand may
prove an Illusion In the first place,
reconstruction in Europe Is likely to
prove a very slow process, due to the
impoverished condition of the people.
Even while talking Of selling them
metal, we are in fact loading ships
with foodstuffs to keep them from
starving. We rejoice in the fact that
we are able to extend this help and
will gladly continue it as 1ong as the
ure on Selling them lead and zinc at
the same time. Again, assuming that
reconstruction is going ON apace, in
seeking a market for our metal let us
not overlook the millions and millions
of tons scattered over the war-torn
fields of France and Belgium, With
an abundance of cheap labor, plans
will be devised to reclaim vast guam
titles Of metal scattered from ex-
p,odlng projectiles, while 1t Is known
that saving the brass shells has long
been practiced by the belligerents.
Metal from these sources will be re-
covered, remelted and used in restor-
ing the property it was used to de-
stroy. In spite of the conditions here
mentioned, 1t is possible that there
may be large demand for American
metal in Europe We hope so, but the
point Is that we should not rely upon
demand from that source and thus
neglect guarding our home market,
which in the last reckoning is the one
;ah 10 al ,,,;,t 40
pend for permanent prosperity.
Lead producers are now very much
concerned through fear that the de-
mand will not be sufficient to absorb
production, and that curtailment
may he necessary and possibly in
scme cases suspension of operations
forced. Zinc producers are already
confronted with that situation, for al
though spelter continues to be quoted
at about Sh cents per pound, it is
we'll known that the quotation Is NOM
inal, that there is an oterproduction
and that only those operators who are
fortunate in having contracts for their
output can market their ores In view
of this situation, it is interesting and
instructive to consider the imports of
lead and zinc to the United States and
exports of those metals from this
country.
Figures recently issued by the de-
partment of commerce show that dur
ing the month of September, this year,
5.2O2,110 pounds of lead ore entered
the United States and 17,905,345
pounds of lead bullion. Most of this
came from Mexico, Canada contribut-
ing the balance During the same
period exports of pig lead from do
nestle ores amounted to S,097,11S
pounds and from foreign ores $685.
476 pounds. 1t will be seen from these
figures that the amount of foreign
lead exported IN pigs was about half
the amount of lead bullion and lead
ore imported, the other half presum-
ably being disposed of in the domes-
tic market. With the European mar
ket for lead lost or at least greatly
reduced, and the product of cheap
Mexican labor continuing to pour into
the domestic market, is it not clear
what is going to happen to the Amer
lean lead producer and the well paid
American miner If something Is not
done to stop the inflow of lead from
the south?
From the same source it is learned
that during the month of September
sos, 800 tons of zinc ore came into this |
country from Canada and 3,431,4Ol |
pounds from Mexico. Exports of
spelter during the same month were
l0,51S,2O0 pounds from domestic ore