| Show MERELY A COMMODITY it sometimes happens that there is an advantage in playing second fiddle to the lead in an orchestra or in being a free lance while others occupy high positions find nd that for those in command occasionally 11 there are restrictions which prevent father advance or even liberty of action at the present time being a mere commercial commodity has been of adeall advantage tae 0 to a number of the metals whose values and quotations are fixed by market sequill re require quill 7 ments these have not been hampered we w a fixed price and as a consequence ad have find that copper silver and lead danced to figures which look very attra of tive to those engaged in the production its high is these metals gold however from of v valte standing of being the standard ill has had to bow its head and bufflo 0 fact that it enjoyed eu oyd pride for the very goo condi about a distinction has brought that has mitigated against its production product pa iOl bearing pro P for years the quest of gold artles has been active and almost the producer P r tent and for the reason that olt always knew what he could get in tle the filed was ket where the price per ounce but and where there was no eilert of b the conditions which have been d silver to interests engaged in copper pos lead mining have madeam made it almost sible to engage successfully in the production of the yellow metal and as a consequence but little activity is now being recorded in gold mining operations with the advance in production costs the quotations on copper silver and lead have been advanced proportionately not so with gold however for its selling value has remained stationery while production costs have advanced to such a degree that it is no longer profitable in most instances to operate gold properties and this condition accounts very largely for the stagnation in gold mining circles the government is very anxious that the production of gold be increased and it is essential that it should be to accomplish this however ways and means must be provided so that the gold mines of the country can be operated so that their owners can break even at least to evolve a plan by which this can be accomplished is worrying government officials in the meantime as far as the other metals are concerned it is better to be a mere commodity than the king of them all whose protected position is more of a menace than a blessing |
