Arizona republican., 1918-05-27
THEMINES ARIZONA

BISBEE, Arizona, May 24.-The middle of the month witnessed operat- ing conditions in the copper industry throughout Arizona in better general form than since a year ago. Barring retarding influences. the industry is safely headed toward the highest pro- duction and the greatest cooperative endeavor between operators and opera tives in the history of the state.
 Higher Freight Rates
 A new element introduced in calcula tions, however, and one which is cer- tain of causing considerable concern is the proposed increase in freight rates throughout the country. The 25 per cent advance which is contemplat- ed would mean the adding of material increase to the cost of each pound of copper. The producer of metal would pay heavily on all of his great variety of supplies, oil, coke, coal, timbers, steel, equipment and general supplies, as well as on the outgoing 75,000.000 or more pounds of copper which he is obliged to haul across the conti- nent each month to the eastern refin- cries. It is considered fortunate that this matter comes up in advance of | the date for the fixing of the prices | of the metal succeeding June 1.
 An Array of Higher Costs
 l With the addition of the proposed ! higher freight rates. the increased costs the copper producers are con- ! fronting is made decidedly formidable. 1 The talked-of advance of a cent and half on the price of the metal be- comes negligible as an offset. What would provide an effective offset is yet | up to the accounting departments. They will have to add 25 per cent to all their freight bills as a starter, and then add the increase in wages which it is desired to make and which l it is expected will be granted. On tor l of that they will add the increased | charge for refining which it is admit 1 ted the refineries have coming to them as a matter of justice. Then they can go further and add the increase in price of fuel and essential supplies which is keeping right along.
 The Smaller Operator
 The tribulations of the large opera tor in these matters are equally those of the small operator, and with even greater force, while the developing i concern carries the heaviest load oi all, for it has nothing at all coming in with which to offset it's expenses Development was never more neces. sary. The low price of metal has com pelled the depletion of reserves out oi the ordinary proportion to the opening of new country. Meantime war de- mands for the metal are increasing and will continue to do so until tht end of hostilities, and it is urgent tha more reserves be established. The en. ,t able price for the metal for small a. well as large producers over an ex- tended period is therefore looked upor as most essential and is point tha
 the war industries board will doubtless give weight in much measure in fixint the new price.
 Much Northern Development
 While the Verde district holds tn lead in the state in point of number of individual operators engaged 1T putting down new workings, develop ing in unnroven but promising areas it has no monopoly on this kind o business. Rather, it has set the pac' for a great deal of the same manne of investment and endeavor in othe
 districts. The principal thing that ha
 been borne in and established in tn
 Verde district work is that depth is es sential Findings of promising kin, may be secured, and are found, in tn, comparatively shallow development but to get mine depth must be made Depth costs q great deal of money Gadsden, Green Monster, Verde Com
 bination are now notably opening thei purses to attain depth. Gadsden hat
 good depth, but is going 200 feet fur
 ther at once to the 1,200 level, which il
 the zone the engineers figured in tn
 beginning that they would have to g