Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-07-16
Mines OF IDAHO
! RECORD DECREASE
FIRST HALF YEAR
Past Six Month of Present
Year Show Decided Fall
ing Off in Amount and
Value of All Metals


The shipments Of ore and con-
centrate from the mines OF ldaho
during the first six months OF 1921
show a decrease in the metal output
of the state, according to G. N. Ger
ry of the United States geological
survey, department Of the interior.
The decrease was. especially notice
able in May and June, after the
Hercules, Tamarack & Custer and
Gold Hunter mines were closed. The
mines Of the Coeur d'Alene district,
however, have not suffered as those
of other Western states, as the ores
contain much silver, for which
high price is paid. The mining COM
panies were encouraged by the re-
duction Of freight rates on ore in
January and on bullion in June.
The Bunker Hill smelter and re-
finery at Bradley continued TO OPP
crate in spite of the low price OF
lead, treating ore and concentrate
principally from the Bunker Hill
and Hecla mines. The lead smelter
at East Helena also continued to
treat ore from Montana and Idaho,
largely from the Morning and Bunk
er Hill mines. The lead plant at
Northport, Wash, however, became
idle in May soon after the closing
of the Hercules and Tamarack & Gus
ter mines, which supply most of the
material smelted,
The gold produced in Idaho in
1920 was valued at $4S5, $50, large
decrease from the output of 1919.
As the output in 1920 was unusually
low and as most of the gold comes
from gold ore minted at Quartzburg,
in Boise county, and from dredge
operations near Murray, in Shoshone
county, no further decrease is ex
pected for 1921. The amount of
gold derived from lead ore and cop
per ore will probably be less, as
many Of the mines Of Lemhi and
Shoshone counties are idle or are
producing on a small scale. The
quantity of gold and silver bullion
deposited in the Boise assay office
during the first half of 1921 was
much less than that deposited DUR
ing the same period of 1920, as the
office is not allowed to pay for sill
yer at the Pittman price.
The production of silver in Idaho
in 1920 was 7,326,794 ounces, val
ued at $7,9S6,205, a large increase
over the production of 1919. A de-
crease of output in 1921 is. almost
certain, as six of the large produc-
ers Of silver are idle. Much of the
silver in the lead ores Is refined in
Idaho and purchased at the Pitt
man price of slightly less than 81 an
ounce Several of the large mines,
notably the Bunker Hill and Hecla,
have been able to continue opera
tions, which they certainly could not
have done If they were dependent
on their income from lead alone.
The output of copper in Idaho in
1920 was 2,538,396 pounds, valued
at $467065, decrease from 1919.
This output Twill probably not be
reached in 1921, as the copper mines
in Shoshone county are idle and pro-
duction from Custer county has been
curtailed. The Empire Copper Co
at Mackay is shipping at the rate
of about 500 tons month in 1921
instead of 1900 tons a month. as in
1920. The copper mines near Sal
mon. in Lemhi county. may produce
some copped later in the year.
though the price of copper and mar
ket conditions are not encouraging
In 1920 the mines of Idaho pro-
duced 249,6O9,976 pounds of lead.
an increase from 1S2,341, 1898 pounds
in 1919. notwithstanding the low
price of lead, Sol cents a pound in
May, 1921, the Bunker Hill, Morn
ing, Hecla and some smaller mines
continued to operate THE idleness
Of other mines, however, will neces-
sarily lessen the lead output of ida
no for the year. The Hercules and
Tamarack & Custer were active dur
ing the first three months Of the
year only, the Callahan Zinc-Iead
Co confined work to development.
and the Gold Hunter Mining E
Smelling Co. made but few shin
ments. AT Gilmore, in Lemhi conn
ty, production was unusually small
The Latest Out mine was idle and
shipments from the Pittsburg-Idaho