The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-02-05

Occur d'Alenes may soon be
called upon to meet a crisis in
the zinc market, occasiOned
by the rapidly diminishing stocks
and the increasing demand for ex-
pert
From a low price of 3 cents in May.
1919, the market has strengthened
until now better than cents is quot
ed and a further stiff advance is to
be expected.
Exports of zinc have averaged bet
ter than 1880 tons monthly during
the past few months and this amount
is growing larger each week, with
Great Britain making the largest de-
nland for the metal
Domestic Demands Increase.
Several causes have contributed to
the changed condition in the zinc
market. Growing demands of the do
nestle building industry now calls for
more zinc than ever before. This is
a result Of educational work by the
large companies in showing the var
led and economical uses to which the
metal may be put in conjunction with
building operations. This helps in
the consumption of the local supply
of zinc, but the outstanding factor
for heavy export calls lies in the
threatened famine of the metal ow-
ing to labor disturbances and curtail-
ment of production in Australia.
Fifty Per Cent From Australia.
In normal times Australia produces
100000 tons of zinc year. This is
about so per cent of the worlds pro-
duction. OF this big output England
uses 100000 tons each year. For sew
eral months the big mines of New
South Wales, the Broken Hill prop
critics. have been closed down on ac-
count of labor troubles. Some of the
large hosting plants and other sur
face equipment have been destroyed /
Dy fire, resulting in more or less de- !
noralized condition from which it
Will take some time to recover.
Must Export Large Quantities.
Local zinc producers. who have
made a study of the situation, call
attention to the critical state Of the
British zinc smelling industry. In
the possibility of obtain
ng zinc from other countries it is
pointed out that Germany on ac-
cunt of lack of fuel and ore, is pro-
lucing less than 5000 tons per month.
10 more than her own needs; that
Belgium producing 5000 tons per
month, will need the whole of her
utput in 1920 for sheet zinc; that
Trance, on account of the destruction
# her works and lack of coal, can not
'e counted on for supplies during the
ear. and that works in Holland are
losed because of the prohibitive
rice of coal. The inference is that
he mines of the United States must
urnish the supply and continue to
xport zinc in larger quantities than
yer for many months to come.
German SHELTERS Out.
Prior to the war; the Australian
reduction of zinc concentrates was
melted in Germany and Belgium, the i
reater tonnage being treated in
iermany under buying contract J
Nth producing mines which had
everal years to run. At the out
reak of the war these contracts
eased and the zinc mining industry s
= Australia was practically sus-
ended
Since the termination Of the war {
immense zinc smelling plants have
cen built near Bristol, England. Is
'hich have contracted to purchase
he zinc concentrates Of the Austral-
IN mines in excess of Belgium re- .
uirements for period Of ten years. Il
Tow the lack Of raw material from t
on account of the shut