The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-08-07

stitute at ST. Louis).
| feel greatly honored to be called
TO this, my native city, to speak t
, you of the zinc industry, for 1t wa!
in zinc mining that l spent my hap,
piest early professional days. Oul
Job is to look forward not backward
to make history in the zinc industry
not to live in the past. considering
what might have been" On the other
hand study of what has been done
ca might or should have been done
may be helpful in the consideration OF
the future
Though we do not look on zinc as a
war baby" from a purely selfish and
materialistic point of view, the war
ended too soon for the zinc industry
not so much on account Of the lessen
ed demands for the metal for NUM-
tons, as in line of building up new
uses for zinc and therefore new re-
quirements, and a better cooperation
OF the mining and smelling interests
with breaking down of the old time
antagonism and distrust.
This society of ours can and should
be of great assistance in these dlrec-
irons. and it should be aided In every
way possible by its members in the
future. We need continuance of the
enthusiasm Of the directors whom we
now have, backed by the loyal sup
port of our membership
Beginning Of Cooperation.
AS you know, just before the arm
istice was declared, a distinct evi-
dence of cooperation of the miners
and smeters was being dsplayed--of
ment, or in restraint of trade" but
helpfully to further the legitimate in
terests of the trade.
Quoting Edgar Palmer, president of
the New Jersey Zine company, regard
ing an agreement to be entered into:
THE proposed plan is designed to
bring about closer cooperation between
the zinc ore producers and the zinc
zlnc industry is matter of national
Importance The negotiations We're
| believe to have been handled by the
Zinc Institute. The numerous con
ferences have produced greater feel
ing of TRUST on the part of both min
ers and smelters and the miners have
learned more of the conditions under
which the smelters have had to opcr-
ate; So as always happens with, bet
tel knowledge, there Is less apt to be
misunderstanding between the two
interests in the future.
Need for Publicity.
We are more mad more being drawn
to the belief in the doctrine of public
ity. A condition of secrecy causes dis
trust and dissatisfaction, whereas
publicity produces a better under
and results in greater CO.
operation and pursuit of common in
terest. In the old days, it was the
custom in metallurgical establish
ments to keep everything secret to
hold as an asset some process of
which it was believed others knew
and to struggle along and
erope about while seeking knowledge
others had This is now largely al
tered. and there Is fine exchange of
IDEAS and methods to the advantage
VI all. Secret processes do not re-
main so for long
During the period of the European
war the zinc industry passed through
many phases: from normal conditions
through period of expansion or in
'!ation, during which. time there was
IN abnormal increase of production
~ reason of more mines being oper-
tied, as well as great increase IN
melter capacity; thence, as result
u overproductlon, back to prices |
which. though higher than in the pre-
var period were nevertheless not I'M
reasonable when compared with the
.dvances in costs; and now back to a
of low demand, with higher
osts than those prevailing prior to
he war
The inflated prices were by no
means an unmixed blessing, for they
aused an increased production be-
ond possible requirements, and the
peration of properties which under
ormal conditions could not be worked
I a profit, resulting in a depression
{ the trade which always follows per-
IDS of great and rapid expansion. The
inc smelling capacity Of this country,
: well as of the world. is much in ex- {
ass of normal demands
Feeling Before the War. (
Previous to the war the relations of [
lie different branches of the zinc in q
lsuy, one to another, were by no t
cans ideal There always had been t
more or less antagonistic feeling I
tween the smelter and the miner II
IT only antagonistic but distrustfal, 4
was almost as bitter as the feeling e
a long drawn out lawsuit where a
oh of the contending parties feels r
at he is in the right but can not see IL
ything good in the case of the other, RI
d. being partisan. energetically ri
ties and despises his opponent, h,
Between the different smelters, ow- OF
: to competition, there was also an al