Show I I Rise i In n Metals Metals' Should Stimulate t Min Mi mine ri I PRODUCTION PRODUCTION DECREASE g 2 1 MAY iMAY BE TEMPORARY 1 1 4 4 1 2 4 4 YEARLY YEARLY OUTPUT BIG RILE the mining industry experienced a n comparatively low lw depression depression depres depres- W WHILE V V sion son p period during the first six months of this year yet ye in In the f face fac ce of these discouraging circumstances the average Utah operator has displayed displayed dis played admirable courage He has done his best to hold his forces together and has gone on digging the precious minerals from his mine mine in in a gradual depletion notwithstanding that he lie knew that he would make money by discharging every man IDan and closing up tight until the t e advent of the the promised promised prom prom- big times i in America which are arc predicted by the national financiers who have their fingers on the business pulse of the tile nation and world The low metal market has been the largest contributory factor to the thc depression and the high cost of operation of-operation- has been a close second These two principals have ha caused almost a falling off of 50 per cent in in the production production pro pro- of the minos in Utah Dividends is the tho one unquestioned argument ment that tells the tho talc tale of the mine The dividends paid in the tho first half of 1919 1910 amount to only about half that of the corresponding corresponding- period in in lois and just about a third the first six months of the banner state div dividend divi- divi year car of 1917 Total dividends of Utah mines for the first half of this bis year caI compared with those of recent years y ars were as follows First half J First half 1918 I r First half haIr 1917 First half 1916 HIGH PRICES INCREASE PRODUCTION The production of these respective years in dollars and cents stand at r r about bout the same ratio as these potential figures of the aggregate dividend distributions by hy years ears Much luch of the discrepancies in the productions of 1918 1917 and however 1916 is due to the fact that the prices of metals took unprecedented leaps upward while the general ore tonnages s mined in inC C various various districts of the state showed no conspicuous increases There were j some sonic exceptions however where high pric prices s for various metals encouraged J the adding to working force and the s speeding ding up of production to a abnormal normal conditions In some instances this proved a boomerang a sort of bad taste in the mouth after a high h g-h old time o over cr night as certain big in gutted out their reserves CS only to find that after the comparatively vely t period of enjoyment of rich rewards s in high receipts the mines were played out and it will ill be an expensive c proposition to again block out ore sufficient ahead to maintain a large and regular tonnage e. e These soar soar- ings of war prices proved pro in such instances an unhealthy stimulant with its unalterable reactionary tendencies HOW METAL PRICES FLUCTUATED t Here is a comparative table of the prices of the four fluctuating metals eat at three important periods of the past year Just before the armistice was si signed ned e on January 1 1919 and for the present No Nov 1 Jan 1 I June 1 1918 1919 1919 F Silver oz 8 1011 Lead Ib lb 06 Copper lb Ib 2595 2505 23 3 l 4 o Zinc 7 II fiR Oft i nor nt u I It H will wUl be noted that in the eight months from irom the time the great armistice armistice armistice armis armis- tice was signed that there has been arise n a rise in only one of ot the four tour metals metals- silver This is s about 10 per pcr cent Simultaneously Simultaneously Simultaneously Sim Sim- there have been disquieting disquiet disquiet- ing decreases in the other three metals Those have averaged from about 25 to almost 40 10 per pcr cent tion Uon Yet with such conspicuous de declines de- de cl dines clines representing Just so much cut cutout cutout cutout out of the thc profits of ot the thc mine owners wages have held almost at the war highs and tho the advanced cost of ot railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road transportation smelting charges and co cost t of ot machinery and powder have hac maintained wars war's zenith prices s r This condition has made it difficult for the thc average mine operator to meet growing crowing demands from tho miner for which resulted in the tho increase in pa pay regrettable shutdown of ot one of ot the biggest and most famous of Utah's Utah mining camps At the time this article was written Park Parl City Cily had been shut i down doun for Cor nearly two months This one conspicuous dark spot in the 1319 mining industry of ot tho the state was Drought on Insidiously and more than from misunderstanding through gh unalterable differences an any lasting or 01 between operator and miner That a ar scale and old wage r return to the which is not Incompatible hour hoar with the or either will heal heat the br breach ach la is the ex expression ex- ex l party part I fully tully cognizant with of ut men nicu J g situation Co n proves Prove 1 Yet during this tILi period o of Idleness mill mUl tho the camp has hasI hasI P of 01 man mine and for tor Hie thu year yeal lust lost In Its Us produCtion production I tion record curd the tho m men n have lu lust lost t l possibly ii tUG i in wa wages cI and th the operators have havu pos possibly made money by closing of 01 back shipments down and nod holding b z continues to torise torise market marlet ore as the metal rise and la It expected to continue in I. I that direction for a a. lon long time lime to come for or until the present and contemplated vast building period of ot otI I the next Live five or ten years in Lu the United U States State reaches Its culminating culminating- l By the disorganization of ot 1 I forces mine operators lost most con- con as aM it takes time and cost cust I to to work worl up an efficient force of ot men Interested ted in the success of ot the mine 9 Jand and capable callable of best collective work rand and United productivity In slope and fern 13 mm ill l lUne lU e Predicted That tho the m metals melas are arc already alread begins beginning begin begin- s t ning to rise to par liar Is an argument UnI un- un I 1 debatable Lead reached a low a n few weeks ago at 49 9 cents a pound now It la is at 54 64 cents Copper dropped to around cents a pound now it is Selling above o 17 cents And 20 cents for tor he near future Is hi predicted Zinc has gone Rone up Ul slightly and Is la expected to tu tuIse ii Ise a aJ It Is needed with the tho other In iii great quantities for con con- ti purposes Silver has risen to toas toas ton as n high as but is now quoted at about an dunce a n. rise of ot more moro l than tan an 10 per cent since tn government go Withdrew tho the stop order at lOU 1011 This emphasizes the fact that the mine owner who has continued to oper ate ale te hl hi his mine In order Oler to give profitable employment to his men and to hold Ills efficient working forces has been a rather patriotic dut duty rather than ban making profits by s shutting up J Jo V vu vv putting his hands in his pockets and awaiting the certain coming of or the day of ot keen demand and higher prices for Cor every pound of or metal ho may pro duco duce Copper production throughout th the United States for instance has been reduced by the big mines minos to about 50 to CO GO per cent only o of their thel This was done in order to give ghe time for tor the absorption of the large surplus in the h hands of or both individuals nn and ind tho the government govern men t. t These surplus st stocks stacks are now declared pretty well out of th the way The wheels of business are being bein- lubricated in readiness for tor or big things thinG's for tor America and Europe and the great reat mines of ot the world are pretty well pro- pro pared to o meet any kind of ot demand made upon them There will be ample copper It is said Mid but there Is exp expected expect expect- ed to be a in lead silver sll and possibly zinc when tho the big construction whirl is at Its zenith Production Cut But at Bin ham as an example tho the treat reat Utah Copper mine has reduced its to 00 Pounds to pounds a month At capaci t ty It can readily SUPPly th the tho World with to more more than pounds o of copper a month This redUction re- re of ot production of ot about 60 GO per cent has Jet Jet et ou out Jut a large number of ot men at tho mine and mills The Tho smelters smelt smelt- ers are arc correspondingly curtailed In the receipt of ot their normal large largo weel weely tonnage of ot concentrates from the tho yah Utah and the have reduced forces v anti and Ti monthly outputs Yet this state ot of morA n. n u o things exists 1 L Ioa In every great mining J camp of ot the thc continent This state of ot has continued pretty gen sen- Sd ft COT er since sinco the first o of f h this year ear and It h has be been n the tho prime cause causo of th the conspicuous reduction In the general dividend ate That Great Question Yet in spite of ot these lar large e reductions reductions at mine mill and smelter In the n number of men employed toda today Very every big bin mine of tho the state Is la suddenly feel reel 11 lug a keen scarcity of ot labor Really efficient help o of the good old kind seems Impossible to secure Hundreds ot of good miners minors and men In other lines of of ot mine and mill work worle would be taken taen on tomorrow tomorrow If they could be bo found round The wa wages es ran range ranie e from about 1 to 5 5 a day Tho Thu only plausible explanation for or orthis this pal palpable pablo shortage o of mert mer when the mines aro arc only on half capacity Is that hundreds of of- men have o drifted into more lucrative employment Today the painter tho the mason the carpenter and men In other arts and crafts are aro re receiving re- re tho the unprecedented wa wage wago o of or G 6 to 8 a da day Why h should a miner Inthe In the tho riskier employment accept a littlemore little more than half halt it I la is ar argued And I scores of ot them have naturally slid Into other sorts Borts of ot work worl It is thought thou ht that hat when matters arc are brought back to normal and various lines of employment and wa wages es are arc arem m measured up UI and anel equitable dally daily wa wages es arrived at at that most of ot th these lIe miners will return to their old work and the mines again will be bo on a amore amore amoro more moro efficient working basis baHls That there thero will be hc national adjustment adjustment adjustment adjust adjust- ment of o wages ales In al all a kinds of employment employ employ- I ment mont is the tho opinion of ot men with an anI anear I ear ehr to the ground It rt cannot be bo otherwise otherwise other other- I wise or there will be chaos It js is arI ar ar- ar- ar I gued One Ono In Industry 1 will thrive and andI I flourish another will pine awa away and i J die dlo for tor want ant of ortho tho all Important labor factor unless there Is some equitable system of ot wage wae with better bettor pa pay to tho the man under severe severo strain and risk of or life and limb Undoubtedly the tho wage wago question In America and In tho the world Is one of or orthe the tho biggest est pr problems bler of or the day dM That It will be solved and land in a n. more moro or less sa satisfactory way within the tho next few tew years ears and to the tho benefit of ot the laborer labor labor- er Is s the tho general opinion of ot men of ot ad advanced advanced advanced ad- ad thought This has been boon graphIcally graphIcally graphically graph graph- voiced In In public addresses in the past year ear by some somo of ot tho the biggest captains captains captains cap cap- of ot finance o of tho the nation and world Men in highest places In what is sometimes called the soulless corporations corporations cor cor- such have IIno predicted Just lust things s. s They had vision felt tell the thc throbbing pulse of ot tho the people and heralded their acceptance of ot better bettor pay and better working conditions for tor forthe tho the workmen o of he world In the face faco of or radical action among workmen the world over and in a n. limIted limIted limited lim lim- way In certain sections of ot the United States Utah Ulah has hag taken a most I j conservative coner and laudable stan stand In InI Inthe I tho the strike at Park City for tor Instance I the men showed a no conspicuous example exam exam- plo of ot self There something like to 00 men left their positions and were out for lor more than six weeks yet et et not one single unlawful act has been charged against them While many people look upon It as unwise Inthe In the extreme this leaving fairly good positions making what Is termed Unreasonable un unreasonable unreasonable un- un reasonable demands for a wa wage e etor for tor a s1 six hour hour da day and having to Idle around without pay for months yet the men have held their heads when It comes to the usual acts of ot violence which mark the average strike and the tho gathering of ot Idle men in crowds Other troubles have taken place ploce at Utah mine anti and mill bu but so far tar tho the law the generally accepted rule rulo of or the citizenry citizenry citi citi- has b ben en respected to the let let- ter And for this tho the citizens feel teel proud and th thankful States State's Annual Production Compared Last year ear there were 50 producing mines In Utah This year car it Is thought that the number may mar fal mI Ito about OO In 1917 there were mines yielding more or less ore ere and In 1916 the number number num num- official sta sta- ber was according to Tho The production of ot ore oro in 1918 amounted to tons This year ear It may moy fall Call to possibly not more than to tons In 1917 the total production of or the tho state was tons In 1916 tho the total output was tons The production of tho the various metals of o the tho camps of ot Utah for tor tho the first half halt of ot this year ear were not available when this article was wa written However It ItIs ItIs ItIs Is estimated there thero will wUl be a large largo de decrease do do- crease from the output of ot tho the pa past t three years cars for tor the same period This will be felt especially In the production production tion of ot Bingham and at t Park City The Tho premier copper mine falling to a n 50 60 per cent basis will cut a deep gash gashin in the 1919 1019 production figures and It also does In the dividends Park City's own strike e will hit that camp a hard blow taking of off tho good left arm of ot its production figures The value placed on the total production production pro pro- production of ot ore In Utah In 1918 was as The bl big year car 1917 mounted to almost Tho The total for tor 1916 was estimated at 89 89 An estimate for tor the present year ear would te le more or less guessing If H conditions should maintain the present production basis of ot tho the various largo large camps It ml might ht not exceed 55 with Park City Cily Idle and Binham Bingham Bin Bing- ham at half capacity and Tintic producing pro pro- less than a 0 month it I appears the tho grand crand total for 1919 for the state will be comparatively very low Mining Boom lioom May Return Yet with present steady advance I of ot metal prices and tho the great surplus surplus surplus sur sur- plus o of metals fast being swept out of the way Into tho the great industrial maw of tho the world it Is Just possible that I within the next sixty to ninety days das the camps of ot the state ma may again be bo booming along at a a- a arate rate not less conspicuous conspicuous conspicuous con con- than thon that of ot memorable 1917 This Is Just a possibility however By next year though It Is expected that tho the big road and building boom for the tho nation will bo be well under wa way when a tremendous demand for |