El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23


I'll PAso. geographically the prin-
L oipal gateway to Mexico. with its
ramiflcation OF railroads into west
Texas. New Mexico, Arizona and Mex
leo. Is the logical commercial center
Of that vast mining region Of what
IS known as the southwest and north
Mexico.
with the biggest combination COP
per and lead smelter in the southwest
the FL Paso Smelling works, located
1t this point. together with mine and
smelter supply houses and all kinds
Of 5obbing whole sale houses. FL Paso
is naturally the pulse Of the vast re-
gion mentioned with its great mines
Of copper, silver. lead. gold. coal. iron
quicksilver, sulphur zinc manganese
and many other minerals which enter
into the world Of commerce and IN
dustry. The several hundred thou
sand men engaged in the operation Of
these mines. shelters and other re-
duction plants AL know FL Paso as
the commercial center Of the vast
region within a radius Of 500 miles
Increased Activity Promised
Now that the industries are com
mencinE to demand greater supplies
OF copper and the European needs,
TO be felt, together with the rapidly
increasing price OF silver, mining OF
the two metals In the southwest and
in Mexico fif political conditions in
that country viii permit promise
greatly increased activity from now
with copper at 2s5k cents a pound
and silver at SLIP II per ounce, the
mining industry can stand the in
creased costs OF labor and materials,
NnHa
reuqistte amount Of skilled labor is
2 problem, beca use so many OF the
foreign workmen in those industries.
flush with money due to high wages,
have returned TO Europe This labor
shortage can hinder the activity in
mining not more than a year, accord
ing to the best opinion in mining
circles. As to copper there has at no
time been any lack Of confidence in
its early return 10 its own The slump
in that and in other metals like lead
and zinc was due TO the upsetting
conditions Of the war and its sudden
Termination.
During 1918 Arizona produced 1885,
744.4ss pounds Of copper and New
Mexico 91.462.362 pounds Of the total
OF 1.S6s-949 SIS pounds produced in the
United States. December last. follow
ing The armistire IN November. found
the copper producers without mar
ker and with very large stocks Of the
metal in the mands OF the United
States and England in particular.
Heavy Inroads Made.
During the four years OF the war,
with the tremendous demand for the
red metal and the scarcity OF labor,
the big copper producers especially
made heavy inroads on their reserves
Of ores and even had 10 neglect their
upkeep TO the standard 81 reduction
plants and equipment In the first
part OF the present year the big con-
Germs in this territory cut down their
output about onehaif and begun 20
use the greater part OF their labor
in development and repairs. thus
preparing for the increasing demand
Tor the metal which was foretnld.
In June and July last there was
plainly seen an increasing output OF
the red metal In response TO rising
prices. and reports as published IN the
mining journals show greatly in
creased ore reserves in the six months
previous Leading producers figure
on being back 10 fun production about
the first OF 1920.
Silver Comes Back.
silver heretofore produced practi-
cally entirely as a byproduct in the
southwest. IS now being sought after
and many reports are coming IN tell
ing OF taking hold Of Old silver prop
critics that had been idle since back
in the sos and early SOS. when the
white metal was at its lowest prices
and did not Justify mining. This new
activity IS showing in Arizona and
New Mexico already and the high
price OF silver viii be an important
factor IN M king mining OF other
metals nay where the white metal is
IN combination with them. Alread~
new silver prospects are being worked
in a small wav. which promise far be-
ter things before another year rolls
around
And silver mining would boom in
rant great silver country. Mexico
and especially in Chihuahua and So
nora II political conditions would per
nit As It is few concerns are "tak-
ing chances" and working as hest they
can 10 take advantag e. especially. Of
the high price OF silver.
Lead ike copner. has felt the result
Of the ending OF the war. but IS show
ing a steadying marlret as industries
gradually revive The same ran he