The Caldwell tribune., 1922-01-10
IDAHO INDUSTRY
PRODUCES LESS
I HAN IN 1920
Value of Precious Metals
Shows Sharp Decrease;
Gold Production Shows
Increase.

The value of the gold, silver, COP
per, and lead mined in Idaho in 1921
according to the estimate of c. NJ
Gerry, of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, department of the inter
ior, was about $l5,2OS,OOO, a marked
decrease from the value in 1920, which
was Sl,l70l76. AS result of the
collapse of the metal market, several
OF the copper, lead, and zinc mines
were closed. Only the high price
OF silver prevented the closing of the
large mines of silver-lead ore. The
Bunker Hill smelter and refinery at
Bradley was active, but only one lead
furnace was operated during the
greater part of the year. Operations
at the lead plant at Northport, Wash.
ceased soon after the Hercules and
Tamarack & Custer mines were closed
in April.
The mine output of gold in Idaho in
1921 was valued at about $4o7 600, as
compared with $485,5oO in 1920. The
largest output of gold was made by
the Gold Hill & Iowa property, at
Quartzburg. The dredge of the Yu-
kon Gold Co., at Murray, in Shoshone
county, was also large producer of
gold, as it was operated uninterrupted
ly during 1921. A new dredge was
being installed at Feathervile, in Ell
more county, and preparatory work
was done for hydraulicking on large
scale in Boundary County and for
dredging in Boise county.
Silver Production Drops.
The mine output of silver decreased
from 7,326,7o4 ounces in 1920 to about
$4,000 ounces in 1921. The larg-
est silver producers in the state were
the Bunker Hill & Sullivan, at Kel-
fogg, the Morning mine of the Federal
Mining & Smelling Co., and the Hecla
mine, at Burke. The independence
mine, in Blaine county, and the Ram
shorn property, in Custer county, each
produced large and increased out
put of silver Other large producers
of silver were the Hercules and Tam
arack & Custer mines, which were op-
Grated for only three months. The
mines in the Coeur d'Alene district
produced about 100000 ounces of
silver, or about "a per cent of the
total for the state.
The mine output Of copper de-
creased from 2,53S,3o6 pounds in 1920
to about 1,436,000 pounds in 1921.
The value of the output decreased
from $467,06s to about $751; 600. The
Empire Copper Co., at Mackay, was
the largest producer of copper, but
for half the year its output was re-
duced to about 1900 tons a month
The Richmond mine, near Adair, re-
mained idle during 1921
No Zinc Shipped.
The mine output of lead decreased
from 24o,60s.o76 pounds in 1920 to
about 100000 pounds in 1921. The
average price of lead was about 4 e
cents a pound, and the value of the
output decreased from $lo,ooS,7o8 to
about 1882 900. The Bunker Hill
and Morning mines were the largest
producers of lead in 1921. aud the
Hecla mine increased its output
Other large producers were the Her
cules, Tsmarack & Custer, Caledonia
independence (Blaine County,, Sierra
Nevada. Idaho Continental (Boundary
County,, and Pittsburg Idaho uemhi
County, The mill of the Gold Hun
ter Mining & Smelling Co. was idle,
but first-class lead ore, rich in silver
was shipped by leasees, The Occur
d'Alene district alone produced about
iS3.000,000 pounds Of lead,
No zinc ore was shipped from Idaho
In 1921, though the output of recover
able zinc In 1920 was 27os2,326
pounds, The Callahan Zinc-Lead Co e,
confined It's operation to development
work, and from the Morning mine
only silver-iead products were shipped
The decrease In the price of zinc to
about S cents a pound and the high
freight rates prevented the profitable
mining of zinc ore.
Dividends amounting TO $3.50, 800
were paid by the Hecla, Federal
Bunker Hill, Caledonia, Tamarack &
Custer. and Hercules mining com
panies during eleven months of 1921