The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-09-23
The Unusual Lead Situation

. harvest fields, where the wages are,
in these days, better than in the
mines and where a more healthful oc-
cupation can be followed. Practically
all the lead producers are complain
ing about this attitude on the part of
labor, and no doubt could speed up
production greatly if they had a rep
resentative share of workers. A SOL
utiOn to this pressing problem of mine
operation which recurs yearly in per-
iods of agricultural prosperity, would
be most welcome.
The Lead Ore Reserves.
In connection with the decreased
production in the United States, it is
pertinent to consider If there is not
some basic reason underlying this
broad trend in the industry other than
labor and transportation embarrass-
ments, and if it may not be that the
domestic resources are smaller than
has been assumed and whether a
pinch of easily worked reserves is not
actually being felt. CHANGING at pro-
duction figures for the last few years
it is noticeable that the great lead
producing centers in the United
States, southeastern Missouri, Idaho,
Utah and Colorado were easily able to
meet the intense war demand, and, in
fact have readily responded to con-
ditions in the industry, and give the
impression of being highly flexible in
productive capacity. It has only been
in the last year that production has
failed to keep pace with demands
placed upon it.
Even though the figures indicate
that nothing is inherently wrong with
the lead reserves of the country, it is
to consider the contrasted
position of the large copper deposits
with well developed reserves, and
those of lead. Lead deposits are not
gigantic low grade occurrences and
the success of a lead mining enter
prise often hinges upon a metallurgi-
cal ability to separate the closely re-
lated metal zinc, from the ore. Flo
tation and improvements in the treat
ment of ores have worked wonders IN
available lead and zinc re-
serves throughout the world. Furth-
srmore the lead bonanzas have been
worked out and it is becoming in
more costly-leaving aside
he question of present high labor
md supply cOst-to produce lead
Australian and Spanish Difficulties.
The settlement of the Broken Hill
trike should soon bring increasing
Quantities of lead upon the market.
mt the full effect of Australian pro-
uction will ont be felt for some time.
The low level of the London market
5 undoubtedly working a hardship
pom the producers in Australia and
lso in Spain, who find it difficult to
~ down lead in London at a profit
hen quotations around SO per ton
re ruling, especially when the seri-
MS labor troubles in these countries
re considered. In the United States
lere is a shortage of lead supplies; in
urope there is more than enough to
apply present requirements, and yet
re London and New York markets
ave failed to strike balance. It is
peculiar world situation
Illustrating the great consumption 4
lead that is taking place in other -
an paint and storage battery man
acture, it is interesting to note the
ad consumption of the Western
ectric company in telephone appar-
us during the year ending June 80.
90 which amounted to 100,000,00
unds. The Western Electric com
ny produces practically IS per cent
the worlds transmission apparatus
one Of its plants near Chicago.