The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-07-29
LEAD OUTLOOK GOOD
NEW USES FOR ZINC
All Mines May Soon
Have the Normal
Number of Men
NO SURPLUS OF LEAD
High Cost of Mining Is Still
Barrier to Development
of New Mines.

TIME labor situation continues to
improve and the mines of the
district are increasing their
forces steadily. Some of them
have all the men they need, and the
outlook is decidedly better than it was
two months ago. The most serious
drawback at this time is the continued
high cost of mining development which
prevents many companies from doing
lanything further than the requirements
OF annual assessment work. Even
this, as pointed out last week. will
have a beneficial effect upon the bust
ness situation during the remainder
of the year. but what is most needed
is a return to conditions that will per-
init carrying out plans for continuous
development, that will contribute to
the permanent prosperity of the dis
trict and be the means of bringing in
new mines. The small amount of this
class of work. compared with that
which prevailed before the war; now
going explains in great measure
the quiet business conditions of the
district. The lead situation through
out the country should encourage the
opening of new mines even under the
present adverse conditions and justi-
iies increased output from the pro-
ducing mines. There is no surplus
lead in the country and not enough to
fill orders for immediate delivery, ac-
cording to the Engineering and Min
ing journal, which has this to say In
its review of the metal market for the
week ending July 81:
Lead.
"None of the large producers has a
pound of lead for July or August de-
livery, and the scarcity of prompt
metal has extended to deliveries in
September. Sensing this, consumers
and dealers became somewhat alarm
ed, and many inquiries developed at
the end of last week, with several
sales for September and October de-
livery at advancing prices. Produc-
ton, both abroad and at home, is be-
low normal, but demand continues
good. With these conditions, and with
the London price firm the A. s. & r.
advanced its New York contract quo
tation to SIC. this morning. This
augurs well for the future, and the
price should increase rather than de-
crease during the next few months"
Zinc.
In quite an extended review of the
zinc situation the Journal points out
that zinc reached the lowest point of
the year about the middle of June
when it was quoted at 7.3Oc, st. Louis
A month later it had advanced to 7.85c,
but even this is claimed to be below
the cost of production for all except
the most favored operators. In spite
Of the low price, production has been
and in the Joplin district
It actually increased, shipments of
for the first half of the
year being 64.15O tons more than the
same period last year. This is ex-
planned TO a considerable extent by
the short time leases of Indian land in
Oklahoma, necessitating quick action
in order to extract the ore before the
lease expired
Another reason" says the Journal.
that production has been maintained
Or increased is the large demand for
oOne and in the manufacture of zinc
)xde for the rubber tire industry. At
he same time that production has been
with occasional relapses-
here is little indication that domestic
of the metal itself is be-
ng accelerated, owing, no doubt to
he still serious railroad and coal
roubles, which have also been such a
ietriment to prosperity in the copper
md lead industries"
Owing to the many influences that
nay have an adverse effect upon the
market for the metal the Journal re-
rains from making a definite forecast
IF the future of zinc, but calls atten-
ion to the fact that "commendable and
attempts are being made in
he United States to educate the peo-
lie to new uses Of zinc and so to
reate a wider domestic consumption"