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Show Kllffl ORE UTPUTLESSENS Lower Production Ascribed . to Decrease in Metal Prices After War. WASHINGTON", D. C, Oct. 5. The metal output of tho mines of Washington Washing-ton during the first half of li19 was seriously se-riously curtailed by the drop in the prices of metals which followed the signing of tho armistice, according to C. N. Gerry of the United States geological survey. Production, however, will probably Increase In-crease as conditions adjust themselves to normal times. The metal output in 191 S was valued at $1,467, -121, a decrease from s:,2S!i.2S.r in 1917. The present rate of shipments indicates that there will bo decided decreases de-creases in the output of gold, silver and lead in 1910. The ore output in 191S was 38,911 tons, part of which was milling ore. Chewelah district, in Stevens county, coun-ty, produced o517 tons of concentrate and 14 '12 tons of crude shipping: ore, and the Republic district produced 4L213 tons of shipping ore. The monthly shipments of copper ore and concent rate from Chewelah d 1st riot were not greatly changed in 1919, but the shipments from Republic were curtailed to less than l)000 tons per njonth In the early part of the year. The shipments of copper ore from Index in Snnhomish county were maintained, but those from Okanogan county decreased decidedly. The metal output in 1 U 1 S was 5:104, 6."iS in gold, 310,093 ounces of silver, 1,91' 2,4 0i pounds of copper, r.271,isr pounds of lead, and a few pounds of zinc. No shipments of zinc ore were made from ei ther North -port or Metaline Falls in the earlv part of 1919. The conditions and prospects in the smelting industry were by no means encouraging. en-couraging. The Northport Smelting & Refining Company closed its lead plant on February 25, and the Tacoma smeiter was said to he running only one out of three copper furnaces. As the smelter at Trail, . C., refused custom ore from Washington, the Klectric Point mlno was forced to shin to Mid vale, T'tah. In March operations were suspended at this mine, which is the source of most of Washington's lead output. A new flotation flo-tation plant was constructed at the Loon Lake mine in Stevens county, a drowsing plant was added to the equipment at Northport, and ore of good grade was opened at depth in the United Copper mine at Chewelah. |