Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-20
COPPERDEMAND
REOPENED MINES
NOT PRICE, SAYS
Minneapolis Bank Claims Up
Grafton Is Cheaper Than
to Shut Down.

An improved tom in the copper in
dustry, in all parts Of the United States
in addition to the business in Montana
where the combination of the Ana
conda Copper Mining Company and
American Brass company is seen as
a factor. is listed in the last bulletin
of the Northwestern National bank
of Minneapolis.
The report follows:
With the Ahmeek mine, which was
opened in April, were also opened the
Calumet and Hecla and the Isle Royale,
and one of our key industries, copper
mining. after Quiescence for about a
year, has begun to function in Michi-
gan. These mines controlled by the
Calumet and Hecla Mining company.
and are the ones that can be operated
most economically.
Copper Now Ia Cents
"The price of copper is improving,
having reached ID cents at the begin
ming of June. There is said to be very
little profit at this price, but it affords
a relief from the high cost of remain
ing idle. 1t is demand and not price
that is stimulating production. Last
year there was a surplus in the United
States, on April 1. 1921, of 100000
900 pounds. This was reduced during
the year to OO,OO0,000 pounds. The
Michigan mines are operating at 90
per cent of capacity, the amount of
production being ruled by the amount
of labor available. Workers have mi
grated, chiefly to Detroit and other
centers of automobile production.
"The acquisition of the American
Brass company by the Anaconda Cop
per company, cOnsummated in January
and February of this year, means much
to the copper industry of Montana. in
that the former organization controls
the output of brass in this country, and
is the largest consumer of copper in
the United States. 1t has plants in
Waterbury, Torrington and Ansonia
Conn, in Kenosha, Wis.,, and in Buff
falo, N. Y.
Production Two Thirds Normal
"The production of the Anaconda
company for the month of May is rel
ported to have been 100000 pounds.
The Butte and Superior Mining COM
pany, the East Butte Copper Mining
company, and the Clark properties are
all on the same basis of production. !
which is approximately two-thirds of
normal. The North Butte Mining COM
pany and the Davis-Daly Copper COM
pany have been making preparations to
open for production in June. Through
our banking connections in Butte, We
have received the following statement
from the Anaconda Copper Mining
company:
The mining situation in the Butte
district is fairly good. The total out
put of the various properties now
amounts to a two-thirds normal pro-,
duction of copper and a yearly full
...I-r r ,n Tho crnn1- af
miners is inadequate and is the deter
mining factor in preventing the start
ing up of additional mines. Other labor
is ample for all needs. Men, however,
are wanted who have had experience
in underground work. The smelter at
Anaconda and the refinery at Great
Falls are propOtionately active.
No Future Shutdown Expected
THE prices of metals are extreme
ly low, so that earnings in the mining
business are at present modest, TO say
the least. For the Butte district the
demand for copper and zinc is fairly
steady, due solely to the requirements
of the American Brass company. now
an integral part of the Anaconda Cop
per Mining company. The Brass COM
pany, in normal times. uses 100000
600 pounds of copper and 10000 900,
600 pounds of zinc a year IN their
various plants, an amount OF raw ma
terial which somewhat exceeds the
total productive capacity of all the
Anaconda copper properties in Mon
tana.
with this assured outlet for its
metals. there is little prospect of there
ever being another such shutdown in
the Butte district as occurred between
April i, 1921 and January 16, 1922.
Brass company, the Anaconda Copper
In the acquisition of the American
Mining company, producing % per
cent of Montana's output of copper.
seems to have achieved permanent
sterilization Of the industry"