The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-02-20
W|LLMOvENEWYORK
OFFICE TO WALLACE
Interstate Callahan
Make Headquar-
tiers Here
SAYS JOHN A. PERDIVAL
Mine and Mill Making Fine
Record.-High Costs May
Force Shutdown
SAYS JOHN A. PERDIVAL

dated Interstate Callahan Mn
ing company will be moved
from New York to Wallace, ac-
cording to forecast made by John
A. Percival, president of the company.
in the course Of a conversation with
representative Of the Miner at tho
Samuels hotel last Monday evening.
Mr.. Percival arrived from the east
last Friday evening and proceeded at
once to the mine, accompanied by
Manager c. w. Newton. He left Tues
day morning over the Northern Pa
cific for New York, where a meeting
Of the directors Of the company will
be held on March 3. Among other
business that viii! come before this
meeting will be the question of NOV
ing the office Of the company from
New York. Mr.. Percival said that
he favored moving the office to Wal
lace, that this was the logical place
for 1t and that It's location here would
eliminate considerable expense In con-
nection with maintaining an office in
New York. He said that he was con-
rident tnat majority Of the directors
would take this view Asked II the
office would occupy quarters at the
mine or in the city, Mr.. Percival said
that that was a matter that would
be considered later.
Mine in Fine Condition.
Mr.. Percival expressed great salts
faction with the condition Of the mine.
Last summer and fall while produc-
tion was suspended large amount Of
development work was accomplished
with the result that more ore Is In
sight than at any time in the history
Of the mine. The character of the
ore also shows improvement, and there
is also distinct increase In the
amount of lead as compared with
zinc. This was indicated by operations
of the company last month. dur
ing which period the company pro-
duced 1,215,000 pounds OF lead and
10000 ounces of silver. This was the
largest production Of lead-silver ore
for one month in the history Of the
mine. This substantial increase, how
ever was not due altogether to the
larger proportion of lead In the ore.
Part of it must be credited to improve
ments in the mill completed last fall
and to improved processes which
make much closer recovery of al!
mineral values. The production rec
ord Of the Interstate Callahan so far
this month is even better than in
January, being at the rate Of about
5000 tons of shipping product month
which includes crude ore as well as
concentrates.
High Cost Of Mining.
Under these favorable circumstances
it Is unfortunate that the matter OF
suspending operations altogether must
be considered, but such Is the case.
Mr.. Percival stated candidly that the
weak metal market combined with the
high cost of mining and excessive
freight rates have made It impossible
for the company to operate at a
pIuut, anu tHdt tho quCSsAoh Va
continuing will be decided al
the coming meeting Of the directors
when he regarded 1t probable that
suspension would be ordered. Dis
cussing the situation. Mr.. Percival
pointed out that while the company
, must sell its product at low price
and on falling market, the cost Of
labor, powder and all mining supplies
are maintained on the same basis thai
q prevailed during the war. Confronted
with this condition, the company hat
continued to operate, hoping that thu
! situation would improve through th'
, readjusment of business to q peac'
basis, but the outlook In that respec
: is not encouraging for the immediate
- future A decision will be reached b.
: the directors after full consideration
American Metal Company Out.
n Regardless of all reports to the con
" trary, Mr.. Percival stated that tn
= American Metal company is out of tn
:, Interstate Callahan company, ,individ
- ually and collectively. All the stoc
"a held by the metal company has bee
y turned back to the treasury Of tn
mining company. and also the stoc
= held individually by It's officers.
~ consideration of the return Of tn
- stock, the Interstate Callahan com
pany consented to the cancellation (
the contract under which the Amer
.. can Metal company WAS obligated