The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-02-01
REVIEW OF LEAD MINING
AND OUTLOOK FOR METAL
ENCOURAGING REcoRD-5ETTER
LABOR CONDITIONS EFF
Feet OF PITTMAN ACT.

(Clinton II. Crane. president of St
Joseph Lead company. in review num-
Der of Engineering and Mining Jour
nal-Press.)
Conditions during 1922 in the lead
mining industry in the United States
were much more encouraging than in
1921 The wisdom of the major pro-
ducers in continuing to operate dur
ing 1921, even though at an apparent
loss, was more than justified. The
improved morale of the working
forces. from managers down, was in
marked contrast to the disorganized
condition of the camps that had clos
ed. and. with the improving market
the whole industry was more prosper
Gus.
The consuming demand began to
exceed production in April, Stocks,
which had been increasing for over
twelve months, began to decline, being
gradually liquidated until by the end
Of the year. they were subnormal; yet
the price of the metal rose from S4.70,
New York, in March. at which figure
it stood in December 1921, to S725 in
December, 1922 The enactment in
September of a logical specific duty
on the product of the cheap labor Of
Mexico probably did not effect any
great curtailment of average imports,
for the excess of demand over supply,
seldom relatively large except during
abnormally low domestic demand or
unless inadequate tariffs unduly re-
duce the domestic output, must come
from Mexico or elsewhere.
Labor and Living Costs.
During 1921, and during at least the
first half of 1922, efficiency had ma
terially increased, partly due to the
picked character of the men contin-
uing in employment and partly to
the intensive effort of the operating
heads to make both ends meet. BY
the fall of the year, all available labor
in the major lead districts southeast
Missouri, Idaho, Utah and southwest
Missouri was employed. In general
the cost of living remained more or
less stable but at an average slight
ly below that of 1921; yet wages were
increased in consonance with the ad-
vance in the price of lead. Labor Is
thus in a much better position than it
was a year ago, and is probably more
prosperous than it has been since the
war.
Production in Utah, and to a lesser
extent in Idaho, continued to be slim
ulated by the Pittman act This will
expire during 1928. and there may be
a coincident reaction in mining ac-
tivity at that time, due to the newt
able drop in the price of silver. Cor
respOndingly, during the last months
Of the application of the law it is
logical TO expect feverish activity to
obtain it's benefits. which may con-
siderably gouge the immediate avail
able ore bodies carrying high silver
credits.
The lead output of southwest Mis-
sourf was much increased in 1922 by
the general renewal of mining opera
tons ensuing upon the advance in the
price of zinc. On the other hand. the
principal lead district, southeast Mis-
souri,, which accounted for about 40
per cent of the countrys' output had
no associated metals, and therefore /
as always, depended for its prosper /
ity entirely on the price of lead
Recover From War.
In all districts the response of the /
mines to the renewed demand was
hampered by the fact that develop
ment work, necessarily curtailed dur
ing the war. was still behind this
condition however. is gradually inn
proving From mechanical stand
point nothing absolutely new was in
itiated, but possibly the principal fea-
ture was the further study and evol-
uation of underground loading and
haulage methods. Especially in the
low grade ore deposits of southeast
Missouri it has become imperative to
supplement with rugged and depend
able loading machines such shoveling
labor as can be obtained; and much
successful experimental work has
been undertaken in developing the
type best suited to local conditions.
In the late fall of 1921 and during
1922, freight rates on ore and pig
lead were revised downward from
the excessive peak reached in August. !
1920; but freight costs today are still .
about double those of pre-war years.
Throughout the country, lead min
ng and milling costs increased ap- u
25 to 40 per cent from L
December. 1921, to December, 1922 S
he decrease effected in the preceding
year being partly already offset; yet
in no case We're the abnormal e
,osts of 1920 even closely approached 5
rhe following table gives the varia-
ion in chief cost items for the three q
principal districts, in each case for Z
he last month of 1920 1921, and 1922. =
he figures being expressed in per- p
entages of those for December, 1920: y
Southeast y