Show From Our Exchange Desk t U J Shiprock mill may ma close From the Montezuma Valley Journal We note with some apprehension that another area uranium mill might be closing The n newest mill to be bo threatened with closing is the McGee Kerr uranium processing pro mill at Shiprock McGee Kerr-McGee has hns been notified Its concentrate purchase purchase purchase pur pur- chase contract with the Atomic Energy Commission will not be renewed after its expiration October 31 31 To us the closing of the mill mm would seem unrealistic since negotiations for tor new mills in other ather areas are arc being carried out And New Mexico has an ore are r rose se see e Ie t totaling million tons as IlS compared to a capacity of million mil lion fon tons Hardest hit would be the Navajo tribe Out of ot the employees are ale Navajo and the total tatal payroll comes conies to per month McGee Kerr has paid the tho tribe in royalties from November 1954 June 1959 and md the royalties pret presently being paid the tribe amount to a month manth The closing of this mill would be an economic blow tp the Navajos as well wen as affecting the rest 9 of the trade area a |