Show Utah Mining Considers re s The Future Problems By C. C W W. McCULLOUGH In Novembers November's Utah Magazine This year the metal mining Industry ot of r Utah finds itself facing a 0 peculiar situation At the end of 1945 the Bee- Bee Beehive Beehive hive Ive State ranked as the leading gold producer in the Union was second In copper output third in silver and lead and sixth in zinc In the combined values of ot these five metals meals Utah stood second In the tho nation being exceeded only by Arizona With the passing of or over halt half of or 1946 we find rind the state hurled from its high places plo es In the min min- mining minIng mining ing world and many of ot its claims to greatness hurled Into the proverbial cocked hat The downward trend began in 1945 when the production or ot gold declined 20 from 1944 highs silver sUver 20 copper 19 lead 26 and zinc lino 21 These were rather orderly reductions from peak war outputs bearing little rela rela- relationship relationship to the sharp production nose nosedives nO nosedives e dives the tho Industry has experienced this year A comparison of ot the following Bureau of Mines figures tells the story Average Monthly 1 Production Utah Utah 1945 1945 Gold oz Silver SIl ver oz Copper Ibs Lead lbs Ibs Zinc lbs Ibs Month of ot June Production Utah Utah 1946 1946 Gold 2453 oz Silver oz as Copper Ibs lbs Lead Lend lbs Ibs Zinc Ibs Lest these figures appear too alarm- alarm alarmIng alarmIng alarming Ing it is only fair to explain that a considerable portion of ot this production drop was due to the labor strike begun In January and ending In July which closed down several of the states state's lead- lead leadIng leading leading Ing metal meal mines the Utah Copper Co the U. U S. S Mine Mino and others in Bingham Canyon With these properties back In Into In- In Into into to operation production figures are again mounting but any ony hope for tor reach- reach reachIng reachIng reaching Ing peak outputs in the near future is I being stymied by other problems man man- power shortages an unrealistic tax bur bur- burden burden burden den tariff uncertainties and govern govern- governmental governmental governmental mental meddling with prices wages and ond markets The manpower problem offers otters some hope of ot being overcome by the individual mine operators but the others are arc so tied up with our present admin admin- administrations administration's adminIstrations adminIstration's administrations administration's economic and political phil phU- philosophy philosophy as to render their solution one or ot national rather than local Baffling Manpower Shortage Sho e eThe The manpower situation appears to be moro serious and baffling battling than was expected at the close of ot the war At that timo It was waa generally expected that with demobilization of ot our armies and the closing down of ot war plants there would be a general return of men to the mines More than a year has elapsed since V-J V Day yet the manpower short short- shortage shortage shortage age Is more acute a than at any time during the tho war Moreover the trend away from the mines seems to be bo in increasing In- In increasing creasing rather than decreasing Studies of ot this situation indicate several con con- contributing contributing contributing causes i 1 Aversion I.-Aversion Aversion to underground work re resulting re- re resulting resulting from a widespread belief bellet that mine work is unduly hazardous and ond offers of offers of- of fers little opportunity for tor advancement 2 Unfavorable housing and social conditions prevalent In mining camps 3 Transportation difficulties I These constitute a 0 challenge to the Industry that must be met and combated realistically if 1 the desired type of or em- em emI employees is to be attracted back to the I mines mine Catering to the welfare and com com- comport comI comfort port I tort fort of ot the employee and his family has paid handsome dividends In other Indus indus- Industries industries tries trI s and In isolated cases where mine I operators have embarked upon such a 0 program In the face of present building I material mate lal shortages and excessively high Continued on o Pago Page Three I |