The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-07
PRODUCTION Of
SILVER IN US.
GROWING
Now 26 Per Cent As Against
Only S Per Cent in
1860.

NEW YORK, March THE
United States produced about rs per
cent of the silver of the world IN
1922. against 80 per cent in 1900
20 per cent in 1870, "a per cent IN
1865. and per cent in 1860, the first
year of our recognition as an 1m'
portant factor In world production,
according to a survey OF the Ma
tional City Bank.
Before 1860 this country's share OF
the world production was only a
fraction Of / per cent. In 1860 1t
amounted to only 116,016 ounces and
1,54T 900 in 1861, for the first time
crossed the 100000 line In 1867
being for that year 1O,441 900 ounces
in 1870, 13,OO0,0 900: in 1880, 10000
900; 1890, $4,000, 900; in 1900, 6S,OOO,'
900; in. 1910, 100000; in 1915,
II, zoo, 900, and in 1922, 56,OOO,24
ounces.
Late i'm the Field.
Although we came late into the
field Of silver production" says
the bank, ''the share which we
have supplied Of the worlds out
turn Of silver from 1892 to the end
of 1923 is about 81 per cent. the
total outturn, according to accepted
authorities, of that 4S1-year period
having been 1915, 100000 troy
ounces, and our own outturn since
we entered the field ninety years
ago. 2,735. 100000 ounces. with q
commercial value Of $2,5S6. 000. 900
while other parts Of the world
decreased their production during
the war, our own output was
larger than at any other time. ad-
vancing from 66,800,000 ounces in
1918 to 72,500,0 900 in 1914, 100000
in 1915, 74,900,000 in 1915 and IT,
100000 in 1917, dropping a little
below 100000 in 1918.
THE chief silver-producing coun-
tries of the world are, in their
order of production in 1922. Mexico,
the United States, Canada, Peru.
Australia, Bolivia, Germany. India.
Japan, Spain and Chile. The big
additions to the worlds supply Of
silver, which were running at the
rate Of more than 200, 900 900 ounces
a year prior to hte war and in
1922 again crossed the 100000. 600
line, do not mean a corresponding
increase in the worlds stock OF
silver money.
A very considerable share of tho
new silver produced from year to
year is now used for purposes other
than monetary. Some of it is lost
by abrasion, some Of it passes to the
Orient and disappears in the
"hoards" characteristic among the
people of that part Of the world.
Much of it has been used for years
In the manufacture of tableware,
ornaments and toilet articles, and
Of late large quantities are utilized
in photography, especially the thou.
sands OF miles of motion picture
films annually turned out in the
world.
Some Not Recoverable.
while the silver used in table
ware, ornaments and toilet articles
is looked upon as possibly recover.
able in case it is needed, that used
in photography and plating is not
recoverable. A recent statement by
a high authority puts the quantity
Of silver now used in photography
and silver plating at from 10000, 200
to 100000 ounces a year, while
from 100000 to 100000 ounces
are annually used in the manufac
ture Of tableware. toilet articles, etc
Accepting the higher Of these fig
'ures. it would appear that about
one-fourth Of the worlds silver pro
duction is now used in the arts and
industries, and this is sustained by
a recent report Of the Director Of the
Mint, who states the worlds indus
trial consumption of silver in 1922 al
$500 900 ounces, or % per cent OF
the 1922 world outturn.