The Cordova daily times., 1920-09-02
DECREASE IN PRODUCTION
 OF COPPER

A decrease in the American copper production during the year 1919 is shown in an advance statement by H. A. c. Jenison of the United States Geological Survey, department of the interior, Washington, D. c.
 The shelter output in 1910 was about 1,310,972,0 ,000 pounds, a decrease of 597,561, ,000 pounds from that of 1918. The production of refined pri- mary and secondary copper from dom- estic and foreign ore and metal was 1888, ,580,O60 pounds, which was 612,- 497,000 pounds less that the produc- tion in 1918. Refined primary copper amounting to 326,O43,O ,OOO pounds was > produced from ore or other material Dimported from foreign countries, prin- cipally Chile, Peru, Mexico and Can ada.
 The discrepancy between the smell ter production and the refinery pro- duction is due to the fact that 562,- 100000 pounds of blister copper and other material was in process of re- lining at smelters and refineries or in transit on Jan. 1, 1919, and, though it was smelted in 1918, it was not re- fined until last year.
 In 1919 the import of copper in all forms amounted to 429,388,000 pounds and the export of copper in all forms amounted to 516,625, 900, which was 231 ,062,000 pounds less than the ex- ports in 1918 and 616,205,OO0 pounds less than those in 1917. The exports in 1919 were less than in any year since 1907
 On Jan. 1, 1919, the stocks of re- fined copper were 1SO,OOO,OoO pounds and on Jan. 1, 1920, they were 631,- 100000 pounds, an increase during 1919 of about 451 100000 pounds. The stocks on Jan. l, 1920, were several times greater than they have ever been before.
 In addition to the stocks of refined copper on hand about 510.O00OOO pounds of blister copper and mater ial was in process of refining at smelters and refineries or in transit on Jan. 1, 1920. This estimate does not include blister in foreign smelters destined for the United States for re- lining nor material in transit to the United States from such smelters.
 The apparent domestic consumption in 1919 was about 876, ,564.OOO pounds which is 7S5,1o6,OOO pounds less than in 1918 and less than the domestic consumption since 1914
 Many causes contributed to de- crease the shelter and refinery pro- duction, the domestic consumption and the exports, and to increase the stocks, but the principal cause was the poor market. The industry was working at maximum capacity when the war demand for copper ceased and 1t was then of course, forced to continue production only at the rate required to supply the ordinary con- merclal and industrial demand. The war demand was stopped so sudden ly as to disturb greatly the trade and industrial conditions and, the pros- poets for the immeiate future ap- peared so uncertain that few indus tries were able to continue produc- ton without first decreasing it greatly and organizing, to some ex- tent their industrial mechanism.
 Under the peace time conditions the demand for copper was small and the average price soon fell fram PAY to about 15 cents a pound.
 The price was far below the actual cost of the production of a very large part of the previous years output. All smelters and mines were forced to decrease production. Some were shut down entirely; others were operated at minimum capacity that would keep the organization intact and the equip- ment in proper order Much of the copper i'll stock could not be profit ably held and the placing of a large part of it on the market kept the s price down, though it showed a ten dency to rise when the readjustment set in.