The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-07-14
Conditions In Idaho
Better Than in
Other States
RECORD IS NOT BAD
Three Big Companies in the
Occur dAlene District in
Continuous Operation

TIME UNITED States geological
survey is rendering a valuable
service to the mining industry
by issuing a midyear review
of mining conditions in the mining
states. covering a summary of oper-
ations for the first six months and
10 some extent lorccasting opera
tions for the last half of the year.
Under the old system these reviews,
based upon direct information de-
rived from representatives. Of the
geological survey in the various mi
ming fields We're issued annually,
and it was often a month or more
after the close of the year before
they were available. Under the
present system they are issued with
in a few days after the close of the
six months period shus making the
information of practical value to the
mining industry. Thus through the
efficient service of the geological
survey the Miner is enabled to pre-
sent its readers a review of metal
mining in Idaho covering the first
half of the year and a report of mi
ming conditions throughout the state
at the beginning of the last half The
report follows:
Decrease in Output
"The shipments of ore and concen-
trate from the mines of Idaho dur
ing the first six months of 1921 show
a decided decrease in the metal out
put of the state. according to c. N.
Gerry, of the United States geologi-
cal survey, department of the inter-
ior. The decrease was especially no
tceable in May and June, after the
Hercules, Tamarack & Custer and
Gold Hunter mines were closed The
mines of the Occur d'Alene district,
however have not suffered as much
as those of other western states, as
the ores contain much silver, for
which a high price is paid. The mi
ming companies were encouraged by
the reduction Of freight rates on ore
in January and on bullion in June.
Bunker Hill Shelter.
"The Bunker Hill smelter and re-
fnery at Bradley continued to oper-
ate i'm spite of the low price of lead,
treating ore and concentrate princi-
pally from the Bunker Hill and the
Hecla mines. The lead smelter at
East Helena also continued to treat
ore from Montana and Idaho largely
from the Morning and Bunker Hill
mines. The lead plant at Northport
Wash however, became idle in May
soon after the closing of the Hercu-
les and Tamarack e Custer mines,
which supply most of the material
smelted.
Gold From Prichard Greek.
"The gold produced i'm Idaho in
1920 was valued at s485,59O, large
from the output of 1913 AS
The output in 1920 was unusually low
and as most of the gold comes from
gold ore mined at Quartzburg. in
Boise county and from dredge OPP
arations near Murray, in Shoshone
county. no further decrease is ex-
oected for 1921 The amount of gold
derived from lead ore and copper ore
will probably be less. as many of the
mines Of Lemhi and Shoshone coun-
les are idle or are producing on a
small scale The quantity of gold
md silver bullion deposited at the
Boise assay office during the first
lalf of 1921 was much less than that
deposited during the same period of
1920. as the Office is not allowed to
pay for silver at the Pittman price.
Profit in Silver.
"The production of silver in Idaho
n 1920 was 7326,794 ounces. valued
1t S79S6 POS. large increase over
he production of 1919. A decrease
Of output in 1921 is almost certain, as
six of the large producers of silver
are idle Much of the silver in the
cad ores is refined in Idaho and pur-
biased at the Pittman price of slight
y less than 81 an ounce. Several of
he large mines, notably the Bunker
Hill and Hecla have been able to
continue operations, which they GER
ainly could not have done if they
we're dependent on their income from
cad alone
No Copper From Occur d'Alenes.
"The output of copper in Idaho in
1920 was 2.5SS,S96 pounds, valued at
1870 a decrease from 1919. This
output viii probably not be reached
n 1921. as the copper mines in Sho-
ihone county are idle and produc-