Show UTAH SURELY FORGING FORCING AHEAD IN N PRODUCTION OF PRECIOUS METALS r t f Expert Asserts That High Record of Production ii p l' l Will Not Be Reached for Many Years Yeas Splendid Showing Made t L By Rv Ira C. C Tichenor l i li i. in Ute the What Utah has accomplIshed production of t metals both precious and otherwise she can duplIcate s t Not only that but there exists a certainty cert t that the high record ot of production tion has not been reached and will n not t be for tor many years to come It It is generally conceded that regardless regardless regard regard- less ot of the hundreds ot of millions ot of dollars dollars' dollars dollars' dol- dol lars lars' worth of metals Which have been removed from the mines of this state the mineral zones of Utah have only been scratched as jt It were While Utah has a proud record as asa asa a mining state and while other industries indus indris tries such as agriculture horticulture and g general manufacturing have had a wonderful progress and an equally wonderful future and the prospects for tor petroleum production are most promising promising prom prom- ising metal mining probably bly will continue continue con con- to be the leading industry ot of the state for years if not centuries and with its importance in this respect constantly constantly con con- increasing OUTPUT output last year is estimated estimated esti- esti mated to have a market valuation of more than Although this magnificent total was slightly under the figures for 1917 due to a decrease In the production of copper during the closing months of the year owing to the cessation of hostilities in Europe the figures are most impressive as showing Utah's place in the ranks ranIs of metal metai producing states According to the preliminary figures of the United States geological survey I recently published in full In The Telegram Telegram Tele- Tele gram the output ot of gold in Utah last year was valued at silver was produced to the extent of I ounces copper pounds 1 lead pounds and zInc pounds recovered from 14 tons of ore There was a slight decrease in the output ot of all the metals with the exception exception ex- ex of slIver silver and therein lies the assurance that as a whole the mining industry of the state will a prosperous condition SECOND IN SILVER J. J In 1917 Utah had the distinction of beIng the leading slIver silver producing state of f the Union While the output last year exceeded that of 1917 by about ounces the Increase in was sufficIent to give that state a slight lead over Utah in silver production production tion last year As much of Montana's sliver silver Is a byproduct of copper mining and in view of the fact that Utah contains many slIver silver mines with lead copper zinc and gold as byproducts it Is eon eon- on- on believed that durIng the present Ares pres- eat ent year Utah will regain her place as the leading slIver silver producing state Should this prove true and there is every reason to believe that it will the value ot of th the increased production will willmore willmore more than offset any decrease that may I take place in the production ot of other metals The stimulus of dollar sliver silver or ora ora a value per ounce slightly above that figure set by the government was responsible for the increase in the out out- put of the white metal In Utah in 1918 and it is certain that this stimulus will continue not only through the present year but for an indefinite period and it is not J improbable that the price sooner or later will reach and thus regain the time honored ratio of 16 to 1 as compared wIth gold OUTLOOK PROPITIOUS Proof of the prediction that 1919 would see greater activity in the mining ml- ml ning industry is seen in the action of several of the larger silver producing countries in making arrangements arrangements' for far more extended development work and andIn andin In the formation of new com companies pan IEs IE's to 10 operate extensively in the recognized silver districts While there may be a decrease in inthe inthe the output of other metals especiallY copper during the first quarter of the present year It is confidently expected that conditions will so adjust themselves themselves them them- selves at an early date as to insure a resumption of the output at least to the normal The demand for copper In industries has been increasing with leaps and bounds for a number ot of years and the indications are that the demand will continue to increase until it reaches a point even in excess of that experienced experienced during the war The same might be said of lead and zinc although as to the latter metal cheaper fuel than now is obtainable In Inthis inthis this state must be obtained before the mining of this metal can be placed upon a successful basis The production of coal in Utah is Increasing increasing In- In creasing in a gratifying manner but with the construction ot of more railroads railroads rail rail- roads into the carbon districts this industry industry in- in would have a most wonderful l growth Taken Talen altogether the outlook for the mining industry of Utah is most pro pro- |