The border vidette., 1931-12-05
uTAH's VANISHED PROSPERITY

IVA uCu VI VIC V0DISu0N RIOSp0E'
ity of Utah and other Rocky
Mountain states can be brought
back by reviving the copper
mining industry of the United
States. The copper producing
industries of the nation are 60
ing through the hardest times in
their history. The cause of
hard times is powerful competi
tion from abroad. Cheap labor
copper from the beart of Africa
is being shipped to this country
in bottoms and dumped at a sell
ing price of half the cost of pro
duction in this country. No
American mine operator or mine
worker can meet such competi
ton and live like an American
should live. This kind of for
eign competition is closing our
mines and putting our mine
workers in the bread line. Con
gress ought to see to it that the
couse OF such conditions is wip
ed out. Congress can remove
the cause by giving American
produced copper adequate tariff
protection and it is its duty to do
So" Hoval A. Smith of Warren,
Arizona. we'll known consulting
mining engineer. stated here to-
day in al interview given The
Tribune.
Fifty-six thousand persons
in the United States depend di
rectly and solely on the mining.
smelling and refining of copper
to keep them from starving and
far the greater part of these
people live in the Rocky Noun
tain States. They are our folks,
ourselves, our friends and our
acquaintances. Our agriculture.
manufacturing and mechanical
industries. transportation sys
tens, trade, public, professional
and domestic services are sup
ported in great part in this part
iof the country by our copper
miners and workers in our mills
and smelters," be said.
Copper mining is of great
Importance to Utah. There are
II copper-producing districts in
the state. Because Of the low
price that copper has been forced
by the cheap copper coming from
foreign lands. Utah lost during
the seven-yeaE period, 1928 20,
an average about $18, 600. 900 an.
nually. I don't need to tell you
any thing about what Utah is
now losing and that the cheap
labor copper from Central Africa
is the cause Of your loss. Our
workers cannot compete with the
native labor of Northern Rho
desia and Belgian Congo. Our
living conditions and our institu
tions make that impossible.
There is absolutely not q single
chance for an American copper
mine operator or an American
copper miner to compete with
African operators or miners.
For US it is either a proper tariff
or annihilation," Smith declared.
The copper mining industry
is present industry in Utah.
It is not of the past or future.
Fifty-four percent of Utah's
total copper production was min.
ed in the twelve year period
from 1919 to 1880, inclusive.
Were it not for the menace of
foreign copper, particularly that
from Africa. Utah's copper mines
would be operating at capacity.
Production and consumption of
copper IN the United States are
about balanced. This means
that our mines should be supply.
ing our own demands for copper.
Keep out foreign copper and our
copper problem will he solved"
be advised.
Copper is the only metal
mined in the United States that
is not given protection from de
structive foreign competition.
The domestic copper miner is
forced to sell bis product at q
ruinous price. in direct competi
ton cheap labor. cheap transpor
tfon costs and other undesirable
factors. There is no chance for
any American worker competing
against such conditions. Stand
ards of living and many of our
ideals would have to be lowered
to almost nothing for Us to begin
about any successful competition
along these lines. We would
have to go native", be said.
Domestic copper is not pro.
tected. Nevertheless manufac
tured copper articles are rigidly
DrOtacted. Our conner miner