Show news from the northwest SPECIAL correspondence spokane wash jan 8 dividends paid by mines of the inland empire comprising northern idaho eastern washington and southern british columbia for 1918 are conservatively estimated at until reports come in from some mines on which definite announcements have not yet been made the exact figures will necessarily be delayed some authorities have made estimates as high as others have placed the figures at this showing while a big one is a reduction of approximately as compard with the record made in 1917 in that year the grand total of northwestern mine dividends was in the coeur dalene district estimates on oil the disbursements for the year are from to as compared with a total of in 1917 british columbia is expected to make a record of approximately for 1918 as against 3 in 1917 the only washington dividend payer so far reported for 1918 is electric point which has disbursed this year in 1917 four other properties in the state paid dividends making the total 0 causes for decrease several causes combined to pull down dividends this year the high standard of wages paid shortage of skilled nien men due to the draft income and excess profit taxes and the constantly increasing high costs of materials wiped out the profits for several companies and materially reduced net earnings for others the shortage of men was probably the biggest factor especially in the coeur daleanes dAI dA lenes enes where volunteer enlistments and the draft made it impossible for mines lines to ship the tonnage hoped tor for beyond certainty the price of metals has also been a factor but not to the extent predicted during the summer some operators are pessimistic in view of fur them reductions recently announced in the price of lead but others are more hopeful of securing cheaper materials for operation they are urging upon manufacturers a reduction in the prices of steel rails powder and other supplies still quoted at wartime prices operators say it is as fair to expect reductions from the manufacturers a ss from the miners who have had a reduction in the prices of metals forced upon them thein the movement is only beginning to take form but is being well received by operators A revision of rail and smelter rates fates still at wartime war time levels despite the reduction fe in metal prices may be urged convention postponed the northwest mining association has definitely postponed the annual convention which was scheduled to be held in spokane february to uncertainty over flu condition throughout the northwest and fear that the restrictions on public meetings would not be lifted in time to give sufficient advertising for the session caused the action by the officials As the epidemic situation has materially improved since the postponement was made it is now expected a date in the latter part of february will be selected the hedley gold the hedley gold mining company operating near the washington line in british columbia has declared a dividend of 36 this is at the rate of 15 cents a share the forthcoming disbursement will increase the disbursements of the year to and the grand total to the company paid each in 1917 and 1916 and each in 1915 and 1914 the company owns the nickel plate and sunnyside Sunny side group of 1370 acres in the si mil milk kameen aineen valley of british columbia and the copper flat property near silver city new mexico its production of gold is the largest in british columbia of a company specializing in that metal its resources are contained in large bodies of low grade ore mined by the glory hole method checks are bing mailed for the latest dividend of the hecla mining IN company having headquarters in wallace idaho the disbursement is at the rate of 15 cents a share and its total is it increases the payments for the year to and the grand total to the mines company of the cobalt district of ontario has purchased the property of the empire copper company of mackay custer county idaho according to reports L R eccles and J td eccles arc president and secretary respectively of the empire company which owns thirty nine claims the property is well deve developed develop Iop ed including a ton smelter and is said to have been on a paying basis it is a cop per silver gold property is 19 one of the big copper corporations PO rations its earnings last year were 3 its entry into idalio idaho if it proves to be true will be of much importance to the mining industry of the state H ac K neill well known mining man mail of spokane with his associates has obtained the ownership of the bush mines on portland canal british columbia said to be one of the greatest gold and silver mines in north america the property is miles from prince rupert mr associates are chiefly residents of fernie B C |