Evening star., 1922-11-17
SERIOUS SHORTAGE
|NMETAL Miners
Silver, Lead, Gold and Zinc
Producers Greatly in Need
of Trained Men.
BY J. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

- Ss 1bV1AA
Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, November 17.-Silver,
lead' gold and zinc producers of the
United States are willing and anxious
20 increase their working forces from
20 to 100 per cent. They cannot ge,
the men. When the mines were
closed down or put on reduced pro
duction at the time of the slump in
metal prices after the war trained
| miners scattered to the four winds
| and few have returned to under
ground employment. They have
round that their experience has fitted
them to obtain jobs in trained en-
p!oyment which pays far more than
slugging a drill and are far less
hazardous.
The copper mines at the present
time are working all the men they
require to turn out the amount OF
| the red metal which the present price
warrants. This Is true of the cope,
districts all the way from Alaska
to Arizona and from Michigan "a
California. The wage scale for com
petent men has turned sharply up
ward anu is not confined to the lev
els formerly demanded by unions and
their representatives.
SOVpeF Dem6nO k0PfOve8.
The building trades. however. are
gradually bringing copper out Of the
dumps. Consumption in those in.
dustries. including copper, bras.
sheets. piping, hardware and lighting
I fixtures and wire. are estimated al
well over 15o.000.o0o pounds a year
according to reports from the meta
trades today. This is an increase O.
million pounds over the rate OF
consumption in 1921.
Silver production is expected I,
reach its maximum before the end o!
the year, in spite of the falling of
in Chinese coinage, which is a decid-
ed market factor Last years pro
duction of approximately . / 100000
ounces undoubtedly will be exceed
ed: The recent increases in the
prices of lead have stimulated the
lead producers in this country. but
have also resulted in increased i'm
ports from the Mexican mines. Th.
output of domestic properties should
run close to 150.000.o00 pounds before
December 81. Zinc production viii
not show anything like that rate o.
in the middle west activity will be
increased as fast as men are
available.
Short of Men and Caru.
In Utah the metal mines are fully
1000 men short of immediate re
quirements and similar conditions
are reported from Colorado, Mon
tana and Arizona. Car shortage is !,
factor which is checking operations
at a score of mines.
The Pacific northwest has expert
enced a rejuvenation of the meta
mining industry within the last tw'
weeks. Montana, Idaho and Wash
ington properties which have beer
non-productive for months are re-
onepip1 The T-Yab Conner Conpany
is putting the rehabilitated Magma
mills. treating copper ores by oil no
tation process. into commission.
One factor in the business situation
which indicates continued prosperity
for next year as well as the remainder
provement and road building now IN
progress. This work has resulted in
healthy demand for contractors
supplies. such as picks. shovels. hoist
ing engines. concrete mixers, wir.
rope and wheelbarrows.
Auto Activity Holds Up.
The surprising activity in autonlo-
bile manufacture is clearly shown in
the increase in employment In De-
workers were employed than last
week.
Dry goods distribution Throughout,
the south for next spring is OF ex-
cellent proportions today. merchants
showing disposition to purchase 1929
stocks before the high prices for raw
cotton shall have been reflected ir
finished goods.
Blue-stem wheat reached the TOP
figure for this season with a sale of
5000 bushels, at $1.50 a bushel. on the
Portland, Ore. Merchants Exchange
Further advances in flour prices are
predicted by western millers.