Show underground mines seek to solve problems problem s fa 0 Z 4 1 7 31 more war workers such as these are needed to keep metal production up the state 0 of utah its public officials and its citizens are becoming alarmed over the decline in the production of lead and zinc which comes primarily from underground mines it is well known that mining Is the backbone industry of utah and that during normal times the industry supports directly and indirectly nearly one halt half the population ot of utah yet during a world war the production ot of lead and zinc has been permitted to decline 15 per cent from the first month in 1932 to the middle of 0 1942 first let us consider the market for or mining stocks which Is a barometer ot of conditions stocks of utah pro producing companies are selling at depression levels the pub lice has virtually abandoned the raining mining market indar indicating abing that there here is no confidence in their ability to erm earn a fair return under present conditions why cannot they earn a fair return most of 0 the product n companies have large reserves of 0 low grade ores the answer seems to lie in costs during the past eight months numerous war industries have located in utah surplus workers have been employed and the war industries have drawn upon the older established industries for or their employees plo despite the tact fact that mining is an important war industry it has not been able to hold its men as it has not been in a position to meet the higher wages offered in other war construction industries thus mines with inexperienced men and an insufficient number ot of mines have been forced into an unbalanced operation whereas one underground miner formerly produced in ila excess of one ton per shift the output has fallen to 7 ot of a ton in one important mine recently steps have been taken looking toward solution of these problems soldiers who have worked in mines are being given furloughs furroughs it they return to their work wage and metal price a adjustments d just ments are also binder consideration era tion |