| Show BRIGHTER OUTLOOK FOR MINING judging from the standpoint of the steadily advancing metal market the future of the mining industry looks far more promising than was the case a year ago the most encouraging feature in the gains in metal quotations is the seeming stability of the copper market it has long been evident that copper is the controlling factor in shaping the destinies of the mining industry when copper commands a good figure in the market when the demand evidently exceeds the visible supply a thrill pulsates through the arteries of the mining industry throughout every section in which the red metal is produced and a reflex of this satisfactory condition is felt in sections productive of silver lead and gold As a matter of fact a good copper market stimulates activity in localities where silver and lead are alone produced almost hand in hand with copper silver has also greatly enhanced in value during the past two or three months and to such an extent that there should he be a notable revival in silver mining throughout the country lead has been remarkably strong and steady for some time past and at a figure that permits of reasonably good profits in most sections the advance of two cents a pound in copper quotations means much more to the producer than most people imagine and will enable the great copper companies of the west to add immensely to their earnings the advance of silver also will materially increase the earnings of many companies and add to the regular output of lead as lead is usually a product byproduct by of silver or vice versa so that mines productive of both metals in combination are all to the good at present quotations it really looks as if 1912 was going to be a banner year for the mining industry conditions could hardly be better and the output of the precious and baser metals this year should be greater than ever before in the history of the mining industry |
