Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-01-18
]. H. LEWIS

put of zine on returns just made pub
lie by the U. S. Geological survey, de-
clined nearly sixty per cent in 1921
The output from both foreign and
domestic ores in 1921 was, all told
196,5O0 tons, as compared with 463,
377 tons in 1920. Under normal con-
ditions the consumption of slab zinc
is twice as great annually as the total
production for 1921, and there is a
very good reason to feel that the
stocks on hand at the beginning Of
this year, both in hands of smeltera
and dealers, is less than a ten weeks
supply. This is margin small enough
to insure big business at good prices
in the face of forward buying move
ments
A rather encouraging feature Of
inquiries made by large consumers
of slab zinc since the beginning of
this year is that quotations are be-
ing asked for deliveries over the first
three months of the year. These in
quiries are coming from both gal
vanizers and dealers The galvaniz-
ing branch of the industry running at
anywhere near par calls for fully
one-third of all the slab zinc pro
duced and the inquiries are in keep
ing with the belief entertained on all
sides that better conditions in the
metal trades may be looked for this
year.
Prime western. prompt, for January
delivery is quoted: ST. Louis, 4.85c
February: 1900; New York, 520c;
and high grade &c. The present price
of high grade separate blende is $33
per ton, base price, local quotations
Mine and smelter output of lead in
1921 fell off about 20 per cent ac-
cording to government statistics
The total output amounted to 100000
tons, as compared with 529,65 tons
in 1920 The average quoted price Of
lead for prompt delivery at New York
for the year was a little under sc a
pound, as compared with an average
selling price of SC in 1920. There are
no considerable stocks of pig lead il
the hands of smelters, dealers or con-
sumers and the prospects of big de-
mand for pig lead for the current
year are strong and good.
Missouri brands of lead are quoted
on outside interests in New York at
4.75c a pound; ST. Louis, 4.40c;
American Smelling & Refining Co,
470c
Lead ore is in good demand and
current offerings rule strong at $5S
per ton. Buyers are after all the ore
they can get at this figure but sellers
are hanging on in the belief higher
offerings will prevail shortly.
The past week has been a bad one
for mine operators. Soft weather,
rain and then severely freezing, ac-
companied by sleet, ice and snow,
making operations extremely difficult
while transportation at times was i'm
possible on account of the condition
of the roads. Prospect work has been
accelerated at all points in the field,
both for the purpose of mining lead
ore as we'll as zinc ore, and numerous
strikes have been made within the
week of a most encouraging charac-
ter. Miners show q greater willing
ness to get back onto an operating
basis and the next thirty to sixty days
will witness a marked improvement
in the mining industry at all points
in the Wisconsin field.
Mine i'm Heart of PlatteVille
Harry Stephens and Jos. Cardy
have taken the mining rights to lots
4,-5,-6, in block 80, city of Platteville,
and have begun shaft to test the
ground. From neighb0ring plots Of
ground float lead has been taken fire.
quently in trench and cesspool dig
gings and men who know are inclined
to the belief that range of ore veins
are making in this spot. Mr.. Ste
phens, former mayor of Platteville,
and president of the Blockhouse Min
ing Co, is no pessimist. In addition
to the BlockhOuse he owns interest in
the McGuire-S Sally Waters mine at
Benton, the Platteville-Dall, at Cuba
City, and is now enterprising enough
to tackle an entirely new project.
The Park Hotel is located on the lots
leased and a range Of ore here would
cary across and under government
lands where mining is not permitted.
The failure of E. w. Wagner & Co.,
Chicago brokers, proved disastrous
to number of small investors in this
locality, many of whom purchased
copper stocks through the Chicago
concern. Some have been hit for as
much as $500 or more e. W. Wagner
several years ago became interested
with w N. Tiffany in zinc mining at
camps of the Wisconsin field. Their
venture did not turn out we'll and
later the project and fine zine mill
were abandoned.
Local investors holding interest in
Montana Bingham, a low-grade cop
per producer near Salt Lake, have re-
ceived gratifying reports this week.
Shipments of ore to smelters at Gar
field run 100 tons daily and nearly 100
men are now employed.
New Diggings Mining Notes
c.. A. Lovelard and G.. w. Snow Of
Platteville are promoting a new mine
on the holdings located near the ia
NOUS Champion mine. In sinking the
shaft three t1mbling openings were
gone through with more than ordi-
nary results. These openings are
characteristic of the formations in
cident to zinc mining in this field and
as rule carry lead ore. The crevice
carried lead ore all the way down
and the shaft is now in the blue rock
strata at a depth of Is feet. No ore
is found in this strata but below the
men are confident they will find
strong deposits of both zinc and lead
ore as this district shows the biggest
and best deposits under the blue rock