Show SHORTAGE i IN REFINING CAPACITY OF COPPER fi Copper o ier producing producing- producing Interests hv have of 1 lat t Thad l ad their attention c called to o the thc thep p possibility of or a serious short shortage in re- re refi capacity In the Uie current year If It fc copper mines of or the United ted States s. s and ad d Mexico attempt to force maximum production At the present time we ve are aro forcing our copper refineries to the very limit If It there Js Is any substantial sub sub- Increase in mine output during 1916 and nd above the rate of pro- pro luction during the last six months of it is very evident o that there must an accumulation of unrefined andt and t therefore Core unmarketable material until ther the r of existing refineries have been i increased sd The Tho Engineering Mining Journal In InIs Its Is current issue presents ome some of official figures figus of f refinery c capacity a which h we reproduce uc uch h herewith rf At the same 1 time w r quote o the same authority's rl estimate t l of ot t the he American I refinery output for or r a se serie of years yeas This rc refinery ner output represents rep rep- resents the product from tom United States as a well wel as a the smelter product re received Te- Te cevet from Canada Ca and ad Mexico and ad some crude copper coppe Importations It I Trill ivill be seen from the figures below that tat United States copper refineries have havea a A maximum capacity at the present time of ot pounds per annum This compares with wit an actual refinery output last rear of something over v F Yr pounds n I many mines Ie below l capacity in first frt hal ha fo the year yea It I Is clear cear that wo can Increases n our mine and s smelter output p b by only ml epo pounds s ss before w we tilt Ut up the existing refinery capacity hP 1 tf l In J this c connection nl it should rJ be stated how however ver that Anacondas Anaconda's pound refinery at Great Falls Fals is being supplanted supplant supplant- ed ed-b ed a new plant which will w have hava a ca capacity capacity c- c cpa ca- ca pa of ot pounds per annum This t plant plat is In process of construction yet yet finished capacity figures figes follow fonow 1915 1914 1915 pounds Nichols li Copp Copper N c Co 1 u Copper ork J. J Baltimore Copper Sm It I Co Co Smelt A Co Co 2 U. U Metals f. f Met Co B Sm c Co Cop Co Tacoma Smelting Co 00 i Hecla i i Mining nn i Co Total Toi This r refers fers to the Great Fa Falls s works as distinct from the company's Raritan Rian at Perth tm Amboy Tn Tha rt Falls Fals wor- wor ren refinery being is-being enlarged end to o pounds capacity he The he refinery output for tr a r s series res of years yeas below is giyen n 1915 1918 t. t 19 2 i ti w 1911 1918 1912 i. i T significance o of of Inadequate refining fa facilities is of course courso clear It would tend to keep kep ep down da the Ue supplies of finished material at a a. a time Ume when the world Is Isk k clamoring for copper as never r before e and to that g nJ extent should d assist t to maintain nf for ri to come a strong stong market for th t otaL eta c |