Show COPPER METAL MARKET IS FREE FROM COPPER SCRAP competition according to boston advices advises early in the month copper producing interests are of the opinion that the importation of brass and copper scrap has practically ceased ever since the armistice there has been much of this war material aerial pressing upon the market and it has been a very important factor in depressing the price of new copper fully tons or pounds of this war scrap has been available in this country and abroad A single brass concern in this country has been importing 1500 tons of scrap monthly and notwithstanding the tedious process of recovering the copper and zinc components it could be done at a saving as compared with new copper purchases on more than one occasion seemingly dead shells cam came e very much to life as they were about to be re melted and more than one melting furnace as a result was either damaged or totally destroyed the total amount of copper produced in the world in 1921 was pounds of which the united states produced from smelter operations a little over 43 per cent the peak of the worlds production was in 1917 when 3 pounds were produced the united states mines furnishing fully 60 per cent last years total output was equivalent to less than three quarters of a pound per capita of the worlds population current united states consumption in june and july is estimated at the rate of from eight to ten pounds per capita but during 1918 domestic consumption leaped to a per capita rate of fully sixteen pounds during the last thirty one years the copper mines of the world produced a grand total of pounds of copper this is slightly less than thirty pounds per capita for the entire period named it does not require any great strain on the imagination to foresee that when industrial revival occurs on an international scale copper requirements will increase greatly present per capita production is ridiculously low considered on a world basis at the moment it must be admitted the world is not prepared for any sudden outpouring of copper but constructive forces are at work and placing the industry on a sounder basis than it has been in for years |