The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-10-22
GOLD and SILVER
MINING INDUSTRY
To Be Discussed at Mining Con-
eress Meeting; How to Slim.
ulate Production and Reduce
Cost Thereof to Be Debated.

Denver, Colo, Oct. 22.-The
condition of the metalliferous in
dustry of the United States is very
serious, not only to the mining
districts themselves. but to farm
ing, manufacturing Industries, etc.
The greater the mineral produc-
tion the greater the number OF
men employed and the greater the
home market for the products of
farm and factory. Aside from base
metals-copper, zinc, lead. ETC.
the increased production OF the
great money metals, gold and silver, has
become q national necessity. whereas
for some years past, owing to war cen
.ditions and after war conditions, the
American production Of gold and silver
has been annually declining. In 1919
the United States only produced l6 per
cent Of the worlds output. In few
years more, at the present rate, the
American production will be still more
negligible.
The billions of paper money issued
during and since the war by various
countries are measured on the gold
standard. A nation has to have . GER
tain percentage Of gold behind its paper
money to make that paper money worth
something; hence ths .ow vulue u the
paper money of some countries. Gold
and the other money metal, silver, are
urgent world necessities. This empha
sizes, from national and international
standpoint, the urgent need of revival
of mining.
The primary object Of the American
Mining Congress is to foster and protect
the metalliferous mining industry Of
the country. Its twenty third annual
convention in Denver, Nov, 1920, will
be attended by some of the leading and
most experienced mining men in the
country. 1t will srapple with the vari-
ous difficulties now confronting the met
alliferous mining industry.
Among other things, a conference of
gold producers will be held during the
convention. There are $500 gold pro-
ducers, both large and small, in the
United States, most of whom have re-
ceived invitationa to attend the confer
ence. The program is in charge of DR..
H. N. Lawrie, who was for number
of years president of the Oregon mining
and metallurgical commission and a
noted mining engineer in the northwest.
He is now devoting his entire time to
the matter as chief of the division of
rare and precious metals of the Ameri-
can Mining Congress and is interesting
bankers and financial authorities to at
tend the gold conference in Denver.
In the words of circular letter sent
out by the Oatman Mining Operators
Association: Up to the present time the
burden of the fight has fallen on the
American Mining Congress, but, speak
ing for themselves, that association
feels that the congress has not had the
support it should have had. The circu-
lar advocates that an organization of
actual gold producers should be per-
fected before the Denver convention so
that the go producers, as unit, may
assist the American Mining Congress.
So also as to silver. The increased
cost of production dnring the past few
years has neutralized the recent ad-
vance in the price of silver originating
in the United States to 81 per ounce.
The annual demand of the world for sill
yer for money and for use in the arts is
several times greater than the annual
production of the world, and the pro-