Weekly journal-miner., 1918-01-16
MINES IN ARIZONA IN 1917 PRODUCED METAL
 WORTH $214,000,000

lead and zinc from Arizona mines in 1917, according to Victor C. Heikes, of the United States Geologi- cal Sutvcy, Department of the Inter- ior, had a total value of over S2l4,- 00O, 900 an increase of more than S23,- 000,0O0 over the value of the output in 1916. This increase was due in part, however, to the greater prices of metals, all of which except zinc, were decidely higher in 1917. In quantity there was a marked increase in gold, a slight increase in recover able zinc, but decreases in silver, cop per and lead During the carly part of the year Arizona was producing copper at a rate decidedly greater than in l9l6, but labor strikes at the main producing and smelling localit- ies considerably reduced the rate be- fore the end of the year. Many mills were built among them custom mill at Chloride and sampler at Wick enburg. Construction was begun on the new shelter for the United Yer de Extension Co. at Jerome. The capacity of the Arizona Binghampton mill was increased to 250 tons a day.
 The production of gold from Ariz- ona mines increased from S3,9S5. .559 in 1916 to about S4,S3l,000 in 1917. As the production of copper ore and of lead orc were much less than in 1916 the increase in the output of gold can be credited to the San Fran cisco district, of Mohavc, and very largely to the United Eastern prop erty, which during the year, became the largest producer of gold in the State. The Gold Road mill was idle and the Vulturc property was operated only little Production at the Tom Reed vas upheld. and considerable gold was produced from the Copper Chief mine, in the Verde district.
 The mine output of silver decreased from 7,2l2039 ounces in 1916 to abou: 6,354,OOO ounces in 1917, a decrease of about S5S,000 ounces. In spite of this decrease, the improved price oi silver, which averaged Sl.4 cents an ounce, brought the value of the out put to about S5,000,OOO, an increase from S4,745,522 inl9l6. The decrease in quantity was due 10 decreased ship mcnts of lead orc and copper orc.
 The mine output of copper was about 6SS,000.0O0 pounds. decrease of 34,000,000 pounds, or nearly ; per cent. Arizona is still the leading cop per mining State and produced moro than twice as much copper as Mon tana. The value of the output in- creased from Sl77, ,570,960 in l9l6 to over S2OO,OO0,OOO in 1917. Six of the large copper smelling plants report cd decreased output on account oi labor troubles. Five others, however greater increased their copper produc- tion-thc Haven, Sasco, United Verde Consolidated Arizona, and Calumet & Arizona At the New Cornclia property the new teaching plant was started in June and produced more than 2,00O,OO0 pounds per month un- til the end of the year. Some copper matte was shipped from the Great Western shelter, in the Big Bug dis trict. The International Smelling Co.,, increased its capacity by adding a rcverbcratory furnace.
 The mine production of lead in Ari- zona decreased from H,062,0S pounds in l9l6 to about lS0O0,00O pounds in 1917, but as the price was better the value was only slightly less thai that oi l9l6, which was Sl,S67, ,2S4 Most of the lead orc came from the Warren district, of Cochise County, and the Wallapai district. of Mohavc County. Considerable lead orc was shipped from the Bunker Hill mines in the Tombstone district.
 The output of recoverable zinc was about 20,700,000 pounds in 1917, an increase of about a million pounds The two largest producers were the Union Basin property and the Ten ncsscc mine, both in the Wallapai district, of Mohavc County. The Ari- zona Hillside property, at Hillside shipped considerable quantities oi zinc ore for the first time, and the properties operated by Randolph & Gcumill at Crown King, also made some shipments. Zinc was shipped from the Duqucsnc property, in San ta Cruz County. Smaller shipments were made from Wallapai district and Casa Grandc The mill of the Union Basin property was burned 1T October
 The dividends for eleven month: from Arizona properties amounted tc more than $4l ,000,0OO. The main con tributors were the Inspiration, Calu- met X Arizona. United Verde, Miami United Verde Extension, Ray Consol
 idatcd, old Dominion, Arizona Cop per, Magma, Shannon. Shattuck-.Ariz
 ona, Iron Cap. Arizona United, Grant Gulch, Arizona Commercial, United n