The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-03-13
REPORT OF R. \. BELL
INSPECTOR OF MINES
Continued from Page l,

dccoulplished during the period, par.
ticularly during 1913, has shown some
marked results in continued ore ex.
pansion and evidence Of deep seated
permanently and some instances Of
expanding capacity for ore production
Output Curtaiisd.
With returning soldiers and war in
dustry workers, together with the
sudden drop in lead values immedi-
ately after the armistice was signed
which continued to recede to the end
of the year, together with the still
prevailing high operating costs, the
labor situation has not only eased up
but men are available In excess Of re-
quirement and the industry is decided
~ upset, with glutted market for
lead metal. Curtailment of output was
necessary and the reconstruction per-
iod Is likely to involve sacrifice of a
rather serious nature of all interests
involved in the industry, including
employer. employe and contingent
community business.
Lead Outlook Good.
Lead has been the chief metal value
produced in this state for a number Of
years, In which respect Idaho ranks
second only to Missouri in it's annual
production and has maintained that
position for 20 years. If the recon-
struction period of the country at
large to normal business condit rs
can be sanely accomplished or
Occur d'Alene district, from its pres
ent known ore resources, can con-
tinue to be relied upon to maintain
the high standing of the state as n
producer of lead silver mineral for
years to come. The present curtail
n.ent of output, necessitated by the
over supply of metal, Is a wise pro-
cedure, as to continue to push the
metal on the market at the capacity
of our big mines, would simply result
in pushing the price to still lower lev
els, The future of lead metal, in my
opinion, is sound. The world is short
Of lead for its normal progress, as i'm
portant sources of lead ore are Of ra.'-
err occurrences in the world at large
than those of any Of the other COM
mon commercial metals. One of the
principal outlets for lead in commerce
Is through the medium of pigments
for paint and other uses, which in
normal times absorbs, am reliably |
advised, fully so per cent of the total !
output of the country. but for paint
purposes lead oxide had to be mixed |
with fairly rich proportion of lin
seed oil. and the price of linseed oil,
at the present time, is almost prohib-
tive for this use, being approximately |
500 per cent above normal pre-war
figures.
If this essential associated element /
of paint returns to rational figure,
the painting industry of the world at |
large particularly Of Europe and of |
this country according to past rec
ords, could absorb the lead production
OF all our mines for a considerable |
period to catch up with it's previously |
established consumption for this pur-
pose.
This is a point where the agricultur-
al industry shows a combined associ-
alton and contingent, influence on the
mineral industry and presents a fit /
subject for our national agricultural
authorities to consider in the stimula-
ton Of the cultivation and production
IF flax seed from which this desirable
vegetable oil Is made and for which
here seems to be no substitute.
Mon Employed.
According to the best figures OBJ
at this date there were $500
men employed in the Idaho mining in I
Iustry during the year 1918, which
embraces both underground and sur
ace workers, which are divided in an +
approximate ratio of two thirds I'M
foreground and one-third surface op G
ratives, including mill and metallur- r
ical plants. Wages ruled high T
through the year but there was such q
demand for men and such poor
upply that efficiency suffered seri-
usly and the turnover of labor was
normous. Many of the workers SEEM
d to be Indifferent to the opportunity
fered by the high wages prevailing AZ
nd were satisfied with a stake of $50 .
} SIS which they could earn in 10 20 II
days and great deal of shifting y
employees prevailed through the u
ear, as jobs We're plentiful and it was u
trouble to get employment X
Mining attracts vigorous, adventu.-
Us young men and most of our min u
g centers responded nobly TO the &c
atriotic calls of the government to
lie army, navy, shipbuilding and var re
us drives for financing the war ac- al
vities. Shoshone county was partic- h'
arly responsive in manpower. which NJ
owed to be heavy drain on The I'D
ines Of their most effective opera at
YES. The most effective operatives Fl
naming were the married men and at
der employees not subject to the war 10
aft, but decidedly subject to the en-
crifice due to the war, in the pre-
ling high cost of living. The extern IN
70 turnover of labor during the WI
ar. with an excess of wanderlust, IL