The border vidette., 1931-12-19
MICHIGAN AND ARIZONA FAVOR
COPPER TARIFF

Houghton, Mich.-That a tariff
on copper is necessary if the
industry in Michigan. as we'll as
in other copper districts in this
country, is to survive was never
more apparent than at present,
in the opinion of leading mining
men. The situation is described
as serious and full of menace.
Copper at 81 cent per pound is
price we'll below the cost of
production. and such mines as
are operating are losing heavily
even though they are working
only three or four days q week.
They are operating merely to
give as many men IS possible
employment through the depres
sion.
There will be no permanent
solution of the problem for the
"copper" industry in the United
Statess it is contended. until a
duty is put on foreign copper.
Curtailment Of production is fu-
tile. it is declared, while copper
remains on the free list, because
the benefit of curtailment goes to
the foreigner who seizes the op
portunity to ship his cheaply
produced copper to this country.
The cost of producing q pound
of copper under the high stand
ards of American living ia on the
average of 9 to II cents per tb
depending Of the grade of ore
and the mass production. In the
Michigan district, costs per 10 in
1880, exclusive of depreciation
and depletion charges, was II.
231 cents. This compares with
II 327 for the five-year period,
1924 %, according to figures
complied by F. G. Pardee. state
appraiser of mines. This shows
that the average cost per pound
Is fairly constant.
Available statistics show that
copper prod uced from American
mines, includes custom ores, for
the first 10 months of 1880, when
conditions in the copper metal
trade were nearer normal than
at present, totaled 588, 454 tons.
Shipments to domestic consum
ers for the same period totaled
676. 237 tons. American con
sumption exceeded American
mine production and import
ed ores by 81. .783 tons. Imports
of copper in all forms for the
first nine months of the year to
tailed 3l1,045 tons and exports
217,515. While American mines
were endeavoring to avoid ex
cessive stocks and correct an un.
healthy condition, foreign mines
added 50. $50 tons to the burden
in nine months. The average
price received for Michigan cop
per in 1890 was IL so cents per
pound.
All of the mining companies of
the Michigan district are in sym
pathy with the movement to
place q tariff on COPPER. 1t is
contended that the iurosds of
foreign copper is making in the
American Market will increase
with the further development of
the South African mines. and
that only q substantial duty, on
imports intended for consump
ton in this country can stop the
menace to the American indus
try.
Both United States Senators
James Couzens and Arthur Van
den berg of Michigan aud the two
upper Michigan congressman.
W. Frank James and Frank ?.
Bohn, have been requested to
further an emergency copper
tariff bill at the coming session
of congress. The Democratic
senators and representatives of
Arizona are taking leading
part in the movement a n d
through them it is expected con
siderable Democratic support
also will be obtained. In this
nnacti0n. tha Tariff GOmmia
sion, which has been investigat.
ing the respective costs of cop
per production in this country
and abroad. will make its report
at the opening of congress- Skill
ling's Mining Review.