The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-01-02
ESTIMATE SHOWS 4
DECREASE IN
PRODUCTION
The Year 1919 Not So Prosperous For
Mining Industry OF Arizona; De-
crease in Quantity of Metals
AS Well AS ln~VaIue. Cop
per Decrease Largest

!
The output of gold, silver, copper,
lead and zinc from mines in Arizona
in 1919, according to the estimate of
Victor c. Heikes. of the United States
Geological Survey, Department of the
Interior had a total value of about
S116, $4,000, a decrease of 500. .427, $50.
There was a decrease in both the
quantity and value of all these metals
but the largest decrease was that in
| copper. During the first part of the
year, there was marked curtailment
of output. and in the Verde district
labor troubles closed the mines for
nearly four months. During the last
three months of the year many of the
large companies again curtailed pro-
duction as a result of market condi-
tions.
The production of gold from mines
in Arizona decreased from $5,435,027
in 1918 to about $4,231,0 in 1919.
This decrease which amounted to ST.
204,000, was a result of the general
curtailment in the production of cop
per ore. More than half the output
of gold from Arizona came from tn>
gold ores of San Francisco district
of Mohave County, though there was
decrease from this source as well
as from the copper ores. The United
Eastern Company remained the larg-
est producer of gold in the State, and
the Tom Reed Company continued fts
large output. The Copper Chief mine
in the Verde district. and the Gold
| Road mine, at Oatman, were idle.
The mine output oI silver decreased
from 6,6S6,152 ounces in 1918 to about
1927 .0G0 ounces in 1919. In spite of
the Increase in the price of silver
the value of the output decreased
from $6,6S6,152 to about $5,479, 800.
The largest producers of silver
were the Calumet & Arizona Copper
Queen, United Verde, Magma and the
United Verde Extension mines. Be
sides the copper mines the largest
, producers of silver were the Bunker
Hill mine at Tombstone and the Com
| monwealth mine at Pearce.
The mine output of copper decreased
from 7S4,S55 ,S74 pounds in 1918 to
about 522,OO0,000 in 1919, decrease
of nearly 80 per cent. The value OF
the output decreased from $1SS .919, ,401
in 1918 to about $9S,296,OOO in 1919,
and the average price of copper de
, creased from 24.7 cents to about 1888
cents pound. There was decrease
! in the output of each of the smelling
plants in the State except the United
Verde Extension smelter at Verde. A
f Miami the output of the international
< plant was close to the record of 1918
2 The Shannon smelter at Clifton was
: closed in January and the plant a.
s Sasco was closed early in the year
3 At Ajo the New Cornelia Copper Co
: continued the teaching of copper ore
t per cent. In the Warren district de
g vclopment work opened extensive or
J. bodies on the Dem Arizona grount
: and on leases on Copper Queen groun'
The mine production of lead in Ari
7 zona decreased from 12. 509,6S pounds
Il in 1918 to about 100000 pounds il
1919. The value of the output de
i creased from $8S7,762 to about $575
e OOO Large shipments of lead wer
O made from the Shattuck mine. in tn
e Warren district, in spite of the della
t caused by a fire on the SOOfoot leve
5, in March. In Pinal County the pre-
O perty of the Raj Silver-Lead Compan
l. produced considerable lead ore, bu
It less than in 1918.
C The output of recoverable zinc de
l. creased from 2,269 SAB pounds il
n 1918 to about 1,717,O pounds in 191
The value decreased from $2O6, ,53S
It about $125,70O The Arizona Hill
s side Mining Company in Yavapa
j. County was the only important pro
v ducer.
= Dividends from Arizona mining con
panies during the first eleven month
of 1919 amounted to about $19,S41.O 90
W exclusive of those of the Phelps Dodg
t, Corporation. which also operates mir
n es in Mexico and New Mexico. II
S cluding the dividends of the Phelp
E. Dodge Corporation the total wa
II nearly $26,S16O00. The companie
W that paid dividends were the Miam
Inspiration. Iron Cap, Shattuck, I'm