The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-12-28

Unless all prophets prove
false all signs fail, and all rules that
guide hard headed business men are
reversed January will mark the be-
ginning of a year that will go down in
history as the one in which the min
ing industry of the Occur d'Alene dis
trict reached the highest degree of
prosperity. Even now before the coun-
try at large has recovered from the
effects of the war. when manufactur-
ing and building enterprises still hold
back, and a restricted foreign market
still hampers the movement of Ameri
can products, the prices of lead and
zinc have for months steadily ad-
practically unknown before except
during the period of inflated prices
due to the war. But with the incen-
tive of high prices, production of the
metals has hardly kept pace with the
demand, and so far as lead is con-
cerned this situation is bound to con-
tinue and even become acute, for while
the coming year will certainly witness
a steady increase in the consumption
of lead, there are no known sources
from which to draw a corresponding
increase in the supply. AS to zinc,
there will doubtless be a large increase
in the production, but this is expected
to be absorbed by a wider use of the
metal which will insure a demand that
will maintain the price at a figure that
means profit to the Occur d'Alene pro-
ducers and encourage the develop
ment of new zinc mines.
Best Field for Mining Investment.
The conditions that prevailed in the
Occur d'Alene district during the years
of mining depression following the war
can not have failed to impress invest
ors seeking mining property with the
stability of mining in the Occur
ld'Alenes. During that distressing
period, when closed down mines were
the rule throughout the west, three
great lead-silver producers continued
in uninterrupted and profitable opera
ton in spite of the adverse conditions.
NJ OiitI iiiitlS ulStAtIL III tNN ht'A
made such a record. The lesson will
not be lost upon the discerning invest
or and it may reasonably be expected
that during the coming year it will not
be difficult to induce capital to come
to the Occur d'Alenes. The OppOrtun-
ity for profitable and permanent in
vestment is further emphasized by
the number of new mining properties
which reached the productive stage
during the present year. list of which
is given in another column. The num-
Der of properties in various stages of
some with ore and some
with every favorable feature except
ore, simply awaiting capital for fur
Their intelligent exploration, is practice
ally without limit. They are scattered
all over this wonderful district-on
Pine creek, around Wardner and KEEL
logg. at Mullan, on Canyon creek, on
the North Side, on Beaver creek, on
Nine Mile and in the dry ore belt
around Osburn. All will not make
mines. but many will, and they pre-
sent an opportunity for rich reward
through intelligent investment and de-
A Great Year for the Occur d'Alenes
It was late in this year before the
district felt the thrill Of returning
which explains the dearth
Of new development work throughout
the district this winter, and this con-
dition forecasts that it will be taken
up even more intensively early in the
spring Many development compan-
les operating on the assessment plan
are preparing to resume operation, en-
by high metal prices which
seem assured for a long period. These
win supplement the larger
operations of the big producing mines
which will continue to expand, in
crease production. employ more men
and swell the rising tide of prosperity
IN the Occur d'Alenes.