The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-01-05

A LTHOUGH the year 1921 will
~ go down in history as one OF
the leanest in the last twenty
five years, it was not without
features which broke the monotony OF
the prolonged depression and inspired
confidence that the future held even a
greater measure of prosperity than the
past. The year made bad start, for
before it was ushered in low metal
prices high freight rates and high
costs of operation forced the Callahan
2 Zinc Lead company and the Gold Hun
ter Mining & Smelling company to
suspend operations. These suspen-
sions. besides the direct damaging af-
feet upon the business of the district,
created grave apprehensions regarding
the continuance of other large opera
ting companies. That these apprehen-
sOns were justified was apparent be-
fore the year had far advanced, for
about March l the Hercules and Tam
arack mines ceased production and re-
manned so throughout the year Fur
Their apprehension, however, was soon
allayed by definite announcement from
the Hecla, Morning and Bunker Hill
& Sullivan that their purpose was to
continue in operation in spite of the
adverse conditions, and this purpose
was carried out without a break The
situation was improved later in the
year by a concession in freight rates,
and still later by an advance in the
price of lead which remained strong
throughout the remainder of the year.
These three mines with the Bunker Hill
smelter gave employment throughout
the year to approximately 1000 men,
While the smaller mines. leasing oper-
lRtions and development enterprises ac-
count for probably 500 more, making
the total mining payroll in the dis
trict during the year in the neighbor-
hood of $500 men, not a bad showing
considering the widespread business
the deplorable condition in other min
ing districts.
Star Mine and Zinc Plant.
Thus the old year proved to be bet
ter than it looked in the beginning. In
fact, it may fairly be credited with
more than has here been stated, for
during the year important develop
ment enterprises have continued and
new ones started that give every as
surance that new mines will soon be
added to the list of producers, and that
a zinc reduction plant will be estab-
lished that will eventually provide a
market for the zinc product of the dis
trict. Although still harassed by It'll
CATION the Hecla and Bunker Hill &
Sullivan companies, operating under
the name of the Sullivan Mining com
pany, having purchased the Star mine,
are proceeding to place the property
on a productive basis at the earliest
possible date. The great crosscut that
will give the Star an outlet through
the Hecla mine was started some
three months before the close of the
year and is going forward at a rapid
rate, an enterprise of first Importance
to the district and which is credited
to the old year Closely linked with
the Star deal was the announcement by
the Bunker Hill company that its ex-
perimental tests of Star and other
zinc-lead ores had been successful and
that the company would erect an cleo
trolytic plant for the treatment of ore
from the Star mine and that plans
contemplated enlargement of the plant
for the purpose of doing a custom bus
mess in Occur d'Alene zinc ores. Thus
in the midst of the deepest depression,
two of the largest and most successful
mining companies in the district en-
tered upon one of the largest mining
enterprises in the history of the dis
trict involving the expenditure of ap-
proximately s1,000,000, while one OF
these companies announce the expen-
diture of another 100000 in the con-
struction of an electrolytic zinc plant
The announced plans of these two
companies had a most reassuring eff
feet for it was reasoned that the fu-
ture of the district must be secure
when companies of this class are max
ing such large expenditures in carry
ing out these great enterprises at this
time.
Making New Mines.
While mineral production was cur
tailed throughout the year, develop
ment operations were carried on TO