The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-04-08
RED ME ! Al l
 SITUATION E PL.A|NE.[) BY
 MR D()IJGLAS


 MT. Walter Douglas, in a recent Interview with an Arizona newspaper man, gives his views on the Copper situation in Arizona MT Douglas arrived in Douglas, Arizona from New York last Sunday evening and vii, make tour of the Southwest, visit ing all the districts where his com pany has interests before returning to the metropolis.
 Discussing the stopping of copper production in this country, MT. Dou- gias said 1t had been agreed this was the only manner in which condition which has been going from bad to worse for many moonths could be met. He said the price of copper recently has afforded no opportunity for profit in it's production to the mine owners of the country. Consumers, he said, had only been buying what they used from day to day or week to week be- cause of the conrlp nally declining price. It is now hoped that the man. ufacturers needing copper will start a campaign of buying which will soon consume the present |laeae copper surplus in this country
 Great Surplus on Hand
 Speaking of the copper surplus, Mr Douglas said it amounted in the United States to 1,250,000, 900 pounds Just how long this supply would meeJ the demands for the red metal could not be even guessed at. He said that the sales of copper in the country last year amounted to 1,700,0O0,0O0 pounds. At this rate of buying the surplus would only suffice for about eight months, but he pointed to the fact that since the first of the present year copper sales in this Country had am ounted to more than S0,000, 900 pounds monthly.
 He further said that the producers would not remain idle until the entire surplus was dissipated.
 Will Assist Employees
 Mr. Douglas expressed his regret at the disturbance in the mining dis tricts where work in the mines an( reduction works has been ordered dis continued and confirmed the repor that the Phelps Dodge corporation would do all in it's power to assis those who have families and home: here and at other points. He advis ed that everyone adopt retrenchmen program during the present period o non-activity and he predicted tha with careful cooperation there woult be little real distress, though he sai' people must not expect to keep tn gait they have been going during tn recent years of abnormal prosperity
 Lack of Realization
 Mr. Douglas expressed his surpris at what he regarded as a total lac of realization of present industria conditions by many state legislature in session during the winter. inclut ig those of New York and Arizona where there seemed to be no dispos tion to conserve the welfare of tn property owners by practicing polio of retrenchment as means of lowe ing the taxes which is one of the bi items of expense in recent yearI caused by result of part participatio in the worlds war by the Unite States. The condition of the minin industry, the stock industry and tn farming industry in Arizona, he sait was not such as to warrant the heav appropriations authorized by the legi. Iature which recently concluded it biennial session at Phoenix.
 Will Continue Development
 The Phelps Dodge corporation, a cording to it's president, has not los confidence in the future of the coI per industry. it will continue impor ant underground development { I5isbee and the work on the Sacr ment Hill and at the new mill; M Douglas did not think that more tha twenty-five percent of the presel force of the Copper Queen branC would be affected by the abandonmel of production of copper.