The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-31

Chicago, March 31 Dead for twelve months, the copper industry has arisen, shaken off it's shroud and on April 1 will give promise of being on its way back to nomalcy, accord ing to reports from the copper sec tiOnS of the country.
 War, rather the end of the war; delivered the temporary death blow. The armistice found the mines with great quantities of copper on hand Demand suddenly ceased. The market collapsed. Through year of general depression the copper industry was among those hardest hit.
 But the resurrection is at hand Re viVal of copper inning on a cautious scale to start about A pri1 1 is announce ed by the Calumet and Hecle company, the Utah Copper company and the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, At that time more than a mllnon acres of land will renew their yield of red metal.
 Several mines are already opera ing. Others have started preliminary work to have everything ready TOT the miners within few weeks. With all mines operating at capac- ity-and this is not expected for many months ths-approximately fifty thous- and men are employed in the country s copper mines. Montana and Michigan with 10000 each provide the great mssiorty of work with Arizona and Utah making up the rest. At the time of the shutdown a year ago, however, no mines were operating at near ca pacity In 1916 Michigan copper mines employed 10000 men. This dwindled until in 1920 the number was 7,5OO. In 1921 the number shranll to 3,7Oo. Similar percentage of employeme11t decline prevailed in other copper fields.
 About half of normal production is expected this spring, reports from the four chief copper mining areas, indi-- cate.
 Summarized, the general situation is:
 Michigan.
 Resumption of work at the Calumet and Hecla company and subsidiary mines the amount of work in the mills and smelters hinges upon the disposal by the companies of their surplus metal April is expected to see many mines operating, al- though with short forces. Fifty or sixty per cent. normal is the estimat- ed production at the beginning. SIX months will be required to build up an organization replacing that scat tered following the shutdown.
 Montana.
 Four properties of the Anaconda Copper Mining company resumed op- being closed eight and one-half months. These mines together with the reduction works at -AnacOnda and Great Falls, employ 7,500 men. Mines third capacity, according to figures furnished by John Gillis, manager of mines for the Anaconda company
 Arizona.
 Copper Queen smelters of the Phelps Dodge corporation. The Calumet and Arizona company mines will shortly resume operations on a ''cau- tious' scale, according to Col. J. c. Greenway. general manager. From May, 1921. to the present all Arizona smelling plants have been idle
 Tho T-+aI, Copnar cop,paDv .-losad in the general shutdown, will reopen at "cOmparatively early date" an official of the company declared. Dur ing the inactive period only 220O men have been employed at the mines which at peak production in 1918 provided work for 5000.
 The depression from which the in dustry is today showing signs of re- covering was the greatest it ever eX- perienced.
 The war emergency led to over production and subsequently, to disas- trous under-consumption which par alyzed every copper mine in the coun- try A huge supply of metal was met with a dwindling demand, combin- ration which sent the market tobog- gaming downward, closed the mines, threw thousands out of work, stag mated business in entire communities and seriously embarrassed many hun dreds of stockh elders whose incomes were affected when dividends ceased.
 Some mines escaped. In Michigan, four mines-the Quincy, Mohawk. Wolvering and Copper Range-con- tinued to operate, but operations were only half of normal
 In Arizona and Utah the industry was prostrated and in Montana the situation was not much better, all though. according to John Gillis. Anaconda mines manager. a payroll of over half a million dollars month ,ly was maintained throughout the entire period for the purpose of pre- serving the comp2 ny's properties. Quite a large number participated in this payroll by means of rotating and dividing work. A majority of the en- l pIoyees worked one-third time and during he enire period of suspen- sion.
 In the Calumet and Hec1a area re- lief measures were necessary. A ma iority of the thousands of miners em- | pioyed there left the community, | those that remained finding work in other lines during the summer and | fall With the coming of winter. however, conditions became sk more | critical. The Calumet and Hecla company took immediate steps to care help. Orders were issued on stores for the actual necessities of life Food, l fuel and clothing were provide ed Through he schools he proper nour- ishment of children was assured. A citizens committee at Houghton. CO., operating with the company, assisted in the relief work.
 Some mining men are sill pessimis- tic over the early revival of the indus try. P. G. Salisbury. president of the. Arizona Industrial Congress and an irfv .