of mine production. It is well known, however, that it only roughly represents actual average price received for copper sold during the year. The actual average price is, however, probably much nearer to the quoted average in a year like 1908, when the market fluctuations were relatively small, than in a year like 1907, when differences in prices were very large and the variations in sales in different months were great.

WORLD'S PRODUCTION.

The smelter production of copper in the world was 1,667,098,000 pounds in 1908, as compared with 1,589,809,300 pounds in 1907. În 1908 the smelter output of the United States was 56.54 per cent of the world's production, as compared with 54.66 in 1907.

The following table shows the world's production, by countries. The figures are those compiled by Messrs. Henry R. Merton & Co. (Limited), of London, reduced to pounds, except that the official figures of the United States production are inserted.

World's production (smelter output) of copper in 1907 and 1908, in pounds.

LEAD.

By C. E. SIEBENTHAL.

a

INTRODUCTION.

An estimate of the production of refined lead in 1908 was given out in the form of a press bulletin on January 1, 1909. This was based on reports from every smelter giving the actual production for the first ten or eleven months, with estimates for the remainder of the year. The total thus obtained varied 1.4 per cent from the final figures of production. The complete figures of production and consumption of primary refined lead, of imports and exports of lead in ore and bullion, and of the recovery of secondary lead were given in the advance statement of lead production, which was published May 24, 1909. The present report contains, in addition, tables showing the production, consumption, imports and exports for a period of years, a comparison of the mine and the smelter production of lead by States, and a summary of metallurgical advance and of trade conditions for the year.

The statistics of production in this country are based upon confidential returns to the Survey by each lead-smelting company in operation during the year. The statistics of domestic consumption are taken in part from these smelter returns and in part from the records of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and the tables for foreign production and consumption are compiled from the sources indicated.

The collection of the figures of mine production in the Central States in 1907 and 1908 allows a comparison of smelter and mine state totals for all lead-producing States for two years in succession, thus to a certain extent eliminating the lag in smelting and affording a truer comparison.

STATE OF LEAD INDUSTRY IN 1908.

The lead industry had an earlier recovery from the depressed conditions prevailing at the close of 1907 than did the spelter industry. After maintaining a stationary condition for several months, lead prices rose rapidly until late summer and then fell gradually until the close of the year.

With the recovery of prices, lead mining was stimulated, but a considerable portion of the increased output of ore was marketed too late in the year to enter into the production of pig lead. Of the principal lead-producing States, Missouri alone showed an increase in

a By primary lead is meant lead which has been produced directly from ore. This term is used for purposes of distinction from secondary lead, which is obtained by refining skimmings, drosses, old metals, etc., figures for the production of which are given on a later page. Wherever in this report the word "lead" is used without qualification primary lead is to be understood.

the quantity of lead mined, thus retaining the first rank in lead production. Idaho and Utah both showed a decreased production, but Colorado had the greatest decrease, amounting to over 40 per cent. There was an increase of 75 per cent in the quantity of Mexican base bullion refined in bond in this country over the quantity refined in 1907, so that the total lead refined in this country makes a somewhat better showing than the domestic production.

PRODUCTION.

The

The production of lead in the United States since 1825 from domestic ores and from foreign ores and base bullion is shown in the table following. For the early years, in the absence of official records, the figures have been compiled from the best available sources. figures for the period from 1825 to 1853 are those published by Whitney; those for the later years were collected by E. A. Caswell. Totals for 1882 were compiled from statistics gathered by the Census Bureau. Since 1882 the figures have been annually collected by the United States Geological Survey.

According to Hahn," argentiferous lead ore was smelted in Montana and Nevada as early as 1866-67, but for the silver only, as the value of the lead would not pay transportation charges to market. With the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869 and the development of the mines at Eureka, Nev., the production of lead bullion began. The first figures of this production which are available are for 1873. It is evident from the totals for 1871 and 1872 that not much bullion was produced before 1873. Estimates have been made for these years, as well as for 1874, in order to arrive at totals for the different classes of lead. Foreign bullion, principally from Mexico, began in 1891 to be imported into this country for refining, but before 1906 the annual quantities so imported were not distinguished from the lead imported in ore. Since the soft lead is all domestic, the desilverized lead of domestic origin can be readily found by subtracting the total lead of foreign origin from the total desilverized lead production of that year, or by subtracting the soft lead from the total domestic lead of that year. Previous to 1906 the total production of antimonial lead is included in the production of refined, desilverized lead, but since that date it has been excluded.

Production of refined lead in the United States, 1825-1908, in short tons.

a Mineral Resources U. S. for 1882, 1883, p. 324.

b Included also under desilverized lead and total production prior to 1906.

c Including also antimonial lead, except for 1906-1908, inclusive.

d Including also lead from foreign base bullion for 1891-1905, inclusive.

e Included in lead from foreign ore previous to 1906.

1 Estimated.

Production of refined lead in the United States, 1825-1908, in short tons-Continued.

1879.

1880.

1881.

1882.

1883.

1884.

1885.

1886.

1887.

1888.

1889.

1890.

1891.

1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1898.

Included also under desilverized lead and total production prior to 1906.

PRODUCTION BY STATES.

The lead content of ores mined and smelted in this country from 1901 to 1905, inclusive, is given below by States from which the ores were derived. The figures were compiled from smelter reports and it should be noted that they represent the content of the ores and not the actual recovery, which is the quantity available for consumption. The latter quantity, termed merchant lead, has regularly been derived from the figures for lead content by allowing 5 per cent loss therefrom for smelting, desilverizing, and refining.

Lead content of ores smelted by the works in the United States, 1901-1905, by States, in

The closer distribution of the lead production among the States from which the ore was derived has necessitated the separate table which follows. The product of refined lead can with difficulty be apportioned according to sources of ore, owing to the fact that lead refiners treat smelted products whose origin may, as in custom refining, be unknown to them, the identity of the ore and thus its original source being preserved only as far as the smelter. Accordingly, this table, showing sources of lead smelted or refined in the United States, is based as far as possible on smelter figures. It includes "pig lead" reported by all known smelters running on Mississippi Valley or southern lead ores, and "lead" produced at all other lead smelters in this country. The greater part of the product reported by smelters operated in conjunction with refineries is in terms of refined lead. A like part of the antimonial lead product is thus eliminated from the "lead" produced and appears only in the figures of production of antimonial lead. No lead ore from the United States was treated elsewhere during the period covered by the table. Sources of primary lead smelted or refined in the United States, 1906–1908, in short tons.