The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-01-02
|DAHO'S GREAT
MINERAL WEALTH
DESPITE WAR CON TION S
MINES DECLARED DIVIDENDS
OF OVER S7,000,000

The value of the gold, silver, cop
per, lead, and zinc mined in Idaho II
1918, according to the estimate of C
N. Gerry, of the United States Geo
logical Survey, department of the in
terror, was about $38,140,000, a de-
cided decrease of $16,700,000 from
the value in 1917. The decrease was
marked in all the metals but gold, as
we'll as in the total value of the out
put. Even the value of the silver,
which increased in price during the
year, was less by more than 100000,
Many of the mines, particularly the
smaller ones, were handicapped on ac-
count of the scarcity Of labor, and
even the larger mines were at great
expense on account of the increases
in cost of freight, treatment, and sup
plies. One of the encouraging fea-
lures of the mining industry of Idaho
was the successful operation of the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan smelter and
refinery at Kellogg. Toward the end
of the year preparations were being
made for the addition of two lead
furnaces as we'll as other improve
ments in the roasting and refining
departments.
The mine production of gold in
Idaho increased from $804,80 in 1917
to about $867,000 in 1918. The most
gold production came from
the Sherman and Corporal property,
in Idaho county. Close to this was
the output of the Gold Hill and Iowa
mines in Boise county. A consider
able output of gold has its source In
the copper ore from Mackey, in Gus
ter county. Although the Boston and
Idaho dredge at Idaho City was OPP
Grated for time during the year., the
total gold from dredging operations
was considerably decreased. The
plant of the Kirtley Creek Co., in
Lemhi county, made only small pro
duction previous to being dismantled,
and the dredge at Pierce had only
slight output.
The mine output of silver decreased
from 12,029,338 ounces in 1917 to
about 9,595,000 ounces in 1913, an
unusual decline of nearly 20 per cent,
and the value decreased from $685.
LIS to about $9,286,000. Decreases
to 100000 ounces or more
shown by the Hercules, Morning,
1reenhill, Cleveland, Caledonia, and
Bunker Hill mines. Fortunately the
Iecla, Tamarack & Custer, and Gold
Hunter made better records. The
argest silver producer of the state
vas the Hercules mine, at Burke, fol-
owed by the Hecla mine, nearby,
yhich took second place from the
'unker Hill & Sullivan, the third IN
ank. Other important silver pro-
ucers were the Morning, Tamarack
/ Custer, Gold Hunter, and Caledonia.
he mines in the Occur d'Alene dis
,ict produced about 100000 ounces,
r about 80 per cent of the total of |
ne state.
The mine output of copper decreas-
d from 7,827,574 pounds in 1917 to
bout 5,195,000 pounds in 1918. The
alue of the output decreased from
2,136,928 to about $1,286,00O The
mpire Copper Co., at Mackey, was
he largest producer but did not up
Did it's record of the last few years.
he National Copper mine, near Null
n, produced considerable copper
,om concentrate, and the Richmond
inc, farther east made shipments
crude ore. There were also smaller
lipments from mines near Salmon,
Lemhi county.
The mine output of lead, which is
e most abundant metal in Idaho, de-
eased from 393,559,521 pounds in
IL to about 300,274,000 pounds in
'18. The average price was some
hat lower, and the value of the out
it decreased from S33,846,119 to !
2,760,000 The Bunker Hill & Sui
(Cnntin1ed on maze fn.,rl