The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-01-13

lnSpeClOlJ.
"vHE LEAD SILVER industry OF
Idaho and principally of the
Occur d'Alene district, is still
and Will probably continue for a
number of years to be the chief factor
Of Idaho metal mining activity. This
industry during 1920 made a material
recovery in productive capacity from
the disastrous slump due to labor diff
hculties in 1919 and most OF the big
producers succeeded in restoring their
productive activities and operating
force towards normal capacity under
continued expensive operating condi-
TONS but fairly good metal markets,
until the reaction in metal prices and
all other commodities during the clos
ing months of the year interviewed.
These conditions together with the
unWarranted increase in railway
freight charges ON ore and bullion,
again seriously discouraged production
and development progress and forced
several producing mines to close down.
However, the impetus obtained during
the first three quarters of the year re-
suited in a decidedly increased metal
yield for the full year of 1920 which
Will total about as follows:
Lead, lbs .-..27O, 468, 56S
Silver o.. ------....--.........--.-..- 7,495,7l3
Zinc lbs. ...---.-..--...-....-.-. 1881 900
Copper lbs. ----..------...-----..-.-- 1,9S1,2 200
Gold, on. ---.........-.-........-..-..... 24,O47
Rock phosphate, tons ...........- $4,000
Total gross value 1872 S54S57, against
$191O272S in 1919, showing an in
crease Of S1S,752,124 in 1920.
Deep Development.
With a few notable exceptions the
development progress in the Occur
dAlene district outside of the main
producing properties continued slowly,
due to labor scarcity and continued
high operating costs. Notable ad-
vances however, were made in the
deepest levels of the larger mines, es-
pecially in the Bunker Hill & SulH-
van, Hecla, Morning, Tamarack &
Custer, Hercules and Callahan Zinc
Lead, all of which continued to show
remarkable fertility in their lower
horizons and insure the continued pro
iuction at maximum capacity for
years to come whenever market con-
litiOns warrant their vigorous opera
ion.
This condition is strengthened ma
erally by the recent definite progress
owards settlement of two noted apex
suits that have been on the docket for
wo or three years past, that have re-
luced to dormancy two of the more
important and extensively developed
ad-silver channels of the district.
The promised ultimate settlement OF
hese suits would release for useful
operation and labor employment prov
n ore resources capable of providing
IN additional daily tonnage of rich
Milling ore aggregating 1000 tons a
lay.
In Other Districts.
Important expanding ore resources
we're also disclosed in the principal
lead silver mines of other
mining districts in Idaho. especially
t the Continental mine in Boundary
ounty, at the Pittsburg-Idaho mine in
-emhi county, at the Independence
nine in Blaine county and the Rams
orn- Beardsley mines in Custer coun-
v. At the latter property a new
cotton daily capacity mill was oper-
ted during six months of the year
nd produced several hundred thous-
nd ounces of silver from the rich sill
er-copper-lead values of the Rams
orn mine and the high grade silver
sad ores of the Beardsley mine.