The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-02-23
NEW MINES INSURE
PROSPEROUSFUTURE
LAW OF COMPENSATION
Big Enterprises, New Strikes
Offset Effect of General
Mining Depression
LAW OF COMPENSATION

ups and downs of mining camps
in the west has observed that
almost invariably during periods
OF depression, when mineral produc-
ton is curtailed, employment scarce
and business necessarily dun, new
strikes are made and large enterprises
are planned as if there was a law Of
compensation to meet such situations
and counterfeit their depressing eff
fects Experience in the Occur d'Alene
district during the past year or more
seems to bear out this observation.
Looking backward it is recalled that
the Callahan mine closed down about
November 1. 1920. and was soon fol-
flowed by the Hunter. while in the fol-
lowing March the Tamarack and Her
cules ceased production, and all have
since been inactive The situation was
bad and the outlook gloomy, and there
was no evidence of any law of compen-
sation TO relieve the situation. But in
the following May announcement was
officially made that the Bunker Hill
& Sullivan and Hecla companies had
Joined in the purchase of the Star mine
and would proceed at once to develop
it, and that by the time it was prOduc
tive the Bunker Hill would have an
electrolytic zinc plant at Kellogg to
treat Star ores and also other zinc
ores of the district. This was news of
tremendous Importance to the Occur
dAlene district. for it meant not only
the bringing in of another great mine,
but that the zinc plant would make
possible the operation of zinc mines
now idle and directly lead to the de-
velopment of others. The announce
ment gave a cheering outlook and
made the ills of the present more bear
able It was an exemplification of the
law of compensation. and further evil
dence that the operation of the law is !
not lacking.
New Mines in Making.
While the past two or three years |
have been marked by great decrease |
in mining development so far as num-
Der of operations are concerned, !
gagged by results the same period /
must be credited as one of the most /
productive in the history of the dis
trict, for there has probably never
been a time when there were so many
properties entering upon the produc-
tive stage or on the verge OF doins 80
Reference to a few of these should
relieve the minds of those people. if
there are such. who are apprehensive
that new mines will not be found TO
replace the old ones.
Western Union.
A year and a half ago the Western
Union was handicapped by adverse ge-
illogical opinion, but today it has to
it's credit ore shipments aggregating
in net smelter returns over $4,000
and with a showing of high grade lead
silver ore which even the most skep
teal must now admit indicates steady
and profitable production. The West
ern Union is operated by leasers I'M
der conditions that provide for much
new development work. and it is prob
able that by the time these leases eX-
pire the condition of the mine will JUS
tify the company in taking over opera
ton erecting a mill and equipping the
property Tor larger pfOductlOn-
Lookout Mountain.
1t remained for Pine creek. that rich
mineral section that persists in hold ,
ing public attention in spite of heavy ,
handicaps, to produce a strike that
will soon make a substantial addition ,
to the mineral output of the district. ,
This is the Lookout Mountain, with :
high grade carbonate and sulphide ,
lead silver ore in the midst of a vast q
lead-zinc field The ore shoot has .
been proved for over 100 feet in length :
and from five to twenty feet in width, =
and with a fine face of ore in the face |
of the drift. A cable tramway is now I
nearing completion which will convey G
the ore from the mine to the loading /
station on the wagon road. Shipments
will be made to the Bunker Hill smell
ter.
Wide West. r
Within the past few weeks the Hecla a
Mining company discovered an i'm 1
portant ore shoot on the Wide West e
Oh Do l.,