El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-04
COPPER MARKET
ISOVERST0CKED
Arizona Production In 1918
Exceeded Output In 1917
But Is Worth Less.

Phoenix, Ariz,, Jan. 4.-The Ari-
iona copper production estimate OF
/ the geological survey for 1918 is
/ 77700o.O00 pounds, to be contrasted
I with the estimate OF the Arizona
chapter Of the American Mining con
( gress Of S1s,000.00O pounds. The 1917
! copper production was 1l2, $4,000
pounds. 1t happens. however, thst
! the increase Of $1,000. 600 pounds has
/ been Of no added benefit TO the pro-
Z ducers. for the average copper price
I in 1917 was 27.3 cents per pound,
while in 1918 it was only 2A75 cents.
I The gross value Of the output in
1 1918 was about S192, 0O0. 0OO, compared
with S19A42I.561 in 1917.
1918 Costs Higher.
No information is available at the
present time concerning copper costs.
but it is known that they were much
! higher in 1918 than ever before. run
ming through every item OF labor, ma
terial- taxation, etc It is understood
also that the year has meant serious
inroads into the developed ores OF all
the larger producing companies, which
have taken out their best ores and
have limited development in a patri-
otto effort to produce for the nations
demand the largest possible amount
OF copper bullion
No Labor Troubles.
In one way the year was a remark
able one, for there were no labor dis
turbances OF any importance. while in
1917 the summer months knew strikes
and enforced idleness to a large de-
gree in Bisbee, Clifton, Globe, Miami
and Jerome This continuous opera
ton has had something to do with the
comparative gain in production, but
large production gains also have been
known through the operation OF the
United Verde Extension reduction
works and the teaching plant Of the
New Cornelia at Ajo. while there have
been gains In output at Miami and
Ray. due TO enlargement OF plants and
10 betterment OF milling methods.
Situation Vague.
II IS appreciated that peace has left
the copper miners OF America very
much up IN the air" In storage at
points on the Atlantic seaboard is as
much copper bullion as has been pro-
duced in Arizona during the past year.
1t has been subject TO the order Of the
United States government, which now
may throw IL on the market OF which
may hold II for foreign export But
something like chaos in the copper /
market may exist for the next six
months or so, till new comm ercia1. J
shipping and manufacturing conditions
have been established. But one fact
seems TO be thoroughly well estab- {
hshed-that there is far too much
copper on hand in the United States
for present absorption by anything (
short OF world war. There is conf /
oence that American manufacturers
and European rehabilitation next year 4
Will consume Americas maximum cop
per production. but the growth Of the 1
new demand undoubtedly viii be .
gradual
VIII Reduce Forces.
There IS expectation that the price .
Of the red metal viii hardly fall be-
low 20 cents, but even at this there
VIII have 70 be suspension of the op-
Grafton Of scores Of Arizona mines
The larger mines already are ccnsid-
erinE the manner in which curtail- 4
ment OF production shall be accom-
plished-there is no question OF the
necessity Of curtailment. This at
once brings Up questions Of employ
nent- Within a month il is possible
that 80 percent Of the copper miners
u Arizona viii have to be paid off,
though some OF the mines. particular
y those OF Bisbee. announce the
starting OF development campaigns ;
hat VIII need many men. work de- /
signed to catch Up with the slack de-
7elopment OF a year past and to get
Stopping ground ready for the future,
IS wen as to explore ground Of pos
iible value.
Small Producers Suffer.
Small producers already have been
lard hit. for the reduction works are Z
TO make provisional settle S
nent for ores shipped on a basis {
bove 16 cents a pound At present {
osts OF labor and material. few Of I
he development producers can con- 7
inue on this basis. G