The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-02-10
TARIFF PROTECTION FOR
LEAD MINES OF IDAHO
FACTS SUBMITTED BY JEROME
DAY TO WAYS AND MEANS
COMM TTEE.

Reference has heretofore been made
to the appearance of Jerome j. Day
before the house committee on ways
and means to urge an increase in the
tariff on lead. Readers of the Miner
will be interested in the argument he
submitted which is here given in full
as sent out by the Washington cor
respondent of the Boise Statesman:
Mr.. Day said the production of lead
in the United States for 1920 was
474,O tons of 1000 pounds each, and
OF this 121,OOO tons was produced in
Idaho, his state producing approxim-
ately one sixth of the worlds annual
yield of lead From this point on the
testimony of Mr.. Day was as follows:
Four Thousand on Payroll.
1.-The number of men directly en-
ployed in this industry in the Occur
d'Alene district at the present time
will aggregate 1000. 1t is extremely
difficult to make an estimate of those
dependent upon the industry and
those who are furnished employment
through indirect connection with the
livelihood therefrom The estimate
of the number of employees is based
upon a greatly diminished production
due to the fact that a number of the
mines. former producers have sus-
pended operations, and those running
have been forced to confine their OPP
erations to minimum producing ba-
sis.
Receive High Wages.
1.-THE conditions surrounding the
employment of these men are favor
able 1t is a safe assertion to say that
they receive the highest rate of pay
for any lead miners either within the
United States or elsewhere. The rate
of wages for the year 1920 ranged |
from 1925 for common. uns1illed la /
Dor, to 81 for mechanics for surface /
work Underground men receive a /
minimum of S5.75 ranging upward to /
81 for skilled The working day /
this entire district both
for surface and underground employ
mont, is eight hours. The housing (
conditions in this district are excell-
emit The relations between employe
and employer are best illustrated by
inviting attention to the fact that in
the period of 20 years last past there
has been but one break in their rela-
Lionship. and that only for a short
period of time during 1919. The Occur
iAlene mining district has always
been a district of high wages and high
costs.
High Production Cost.
1.-THE production costs on lead are
high and it will probably
Dc urged to your honorable commit
zee that these costs will be material
V reduced 7 am willing to concede
he point that costs are high and also
hat they will be reduced, but it is not
o be understood that I believe these
,osts can be brought in the near flu
ure, or at least for a considerable
period of time, to anything approx
rating the pre-war costs. One of the
thief causes that high costs can not
je reduced to comparative pre-war
igures is the great stress that was
)ut upon known ore reserves during
he critical period of the war. These
IRE reserves were developed during
he period of low costs of material and
mpplies and a high efficiency. Owing
o the lack of labor and supplies these
'eserves were severely depleted
wen exhausted-and further develop
pent of new ore reserves must Of ne
,essity be made with labor, material
md supplies high.
Big Increase in Freight.
"As an illustration of one item
lone, previous to the operation of the
ailroads under government control.
ton of lead $4,000 pounds) could be
hipped from smelter to New York for
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