Imperial Valley press., 1940-10-17
Western Mininq
Improves Under
j. s. Rearlnament
BY MURRAY M. MOLEk
United Press Staff Correspondent

OultcU TTcSS quail correspondents
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct.
II. CUP)-Western mining-always
a representative barometer of the
nations business-iS beginning to
improve under the impetus of the
United States rearmament program.
And experts predict the next few
weeks will see mining pick up even
more.
"The condition of the mining
industry always is good indica-
tion of the condition of this coun-
try's business reported A. G.. Mac
Kenzie, noted Salt Lake City min
ing authority and veteran secre-
tary of the Utah chapter of the
American Mining Congress.
Mackenzie explained products of
the mines of the west, particular
ly Utah, are used in a thousand
and one ways" in the rearmament
program.
"For instance-to show that all
minerals don't go directly into mu-
| IlltlOllS-tNcIy CillC q AiCW ioSeoiy
goes up, the condition Of the min
erals industry is improved" he said.
"The steel that goes into the
plants must be painted. And that
helps lead miners.
Use of Copper Increased
1.-The machine tools require tons
of high grade steel alloys. Most of
the minerals used to fortify or
strengthen these tools comes from
the west. Defense is requiring thou
sands of trucks and tanks. That
means more copper in the machines
themselves more lead in their stor-
age batteries, and use of many
other minerals"
Mackenzie said that operators
of the mines are sometimes reluc-
tant to plunge into increased pro-
duction until they are sure the
business pickup is going to last.
Most of the custom smelters op-
crate on a contract basis with the
miners. The smelters are obligated
to take minerals whenever the
mines are opened.
1.-TWO of the largest smelters here
in Salt Lake City formerly OPP
Grated on an intermittent basis"
said Mackenzie. "One would op-
crate full blast during the winter.
then close down in the summer
while the stocks from the miners
accumulated. The other operateds
all during the winter but in the
summer would run a month, then
close down for a month"
Imports to Utah Shelters
This summer, conditions were
different. Both of these custom
smelters operated most of the
time. One handled several contract
shipments from South American
and Oriental mines-shipments that
formerly went to the smelters of
Europe.
The foreign shipments are ex-
pected to increase as wartime
blockades strengthen.
Mackenzie estimated that 10,430
persons are employed in the mining
industry in Utah alone, including
948O day-wage workers at mines
and plants.
No estimates are available of non-
ferrous metal production in Utah /
this year. The non-ferrous metals
principally copper, lead and zinc
are affected more by defense or
ders than gold and silver.
In 1899, Utah produced 343, ,780-
O00pbunds of corper, 1876 ,268,CO0
pounds of lead and SO 1852 900 pounds
of zinc.
The copper in 1889 was valued
at $35 5.753,120, lead at $685., ,596
and zinc at $3,590,704.
In 1898, copper production was
valued at $21 1872. 2.696, lead at $6,404,-s
444 and zinc at 1921, ,168.
Production in 1937-best year for
western mining in the last 1O-was
valued at $49,85O,548 for copper
$l0556'044 for lead and $G.21o19o
for zipo