| 1000 × 0.90 = 900 lb. lead, at 3.5c. | $31.50 |
| 30 × 0.95 = 28.5 oz. silver, at 50c. | 14.25 |
| Gross value, f. o. b. mines | $45.75 |
| Less freight, $10, and smelting charge, $8 | 18.00 |
| Net value, f. o. b. mines | $27.75 |
Assuming an average of 6 tons of crude ore to 1 ton of concentrate, the value per ton of crude ore would be about $4.62½, and the net profit per ton about $1.62½, which figures are increased 23.75c. for each 5c. rise in the value of silver above 50c. per ounce.
The production of the Cœur d’Alene since 1895, as reported by the mines, has been as follows:
| Year | Lead, Tons | Silver, oz. | Ratio [3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | 37,250 | 2,500,000 | 67.1 |
| 1897 | 57,777 | 3,579,424 | 61.9 |
| 1898 | 56,339 | 3,399,524 | 60.3 |
| 1899 | 50,006 | 2,736,872 | 54.7 |
| 1900 | 81,535 | 4,755,877 | 58.3 |
| 1901 | 68,953 | 3,349,533 | 48.5 |
| 1902 | 74,739 | 4,489,549 | 60.0 |
| 1903 | [4]100,355 | 5,751,613 | 57.3 |
| 1904 | [4]108,954 | 6,247,795 | 57.4 |
The number of producers in the Cœur d’Alene district is comparatively small, and many of them have recently consolidated, under the name of the Federal Mining and Smelting Company. Outside of that concern are the Bunker Hill & Sullivan, the Morning and the Hercules mines, control of which has lately been secured by the American Smelting and Refining Company.
Southeastern Missouri.—The most of the lead produced in this region comes from what is called the disseminated district, comprising the mines of Bonne Terre, Flat River, Doe Run, Mine la Motte and Fredericktown, of which those of Bonne Terre and Flat River are the most important. The ore of this region is a magnesian limestone impregnated with galena. The deposits lie nearly flat and are very large. They yield about 5 per cent. of mineral, which assays about 65 per cent. lead. The low grade of the ore is the only disadvantage which this district has, but this is so much more than offset by the numerous advantages, that mining is conducted very profitably, and it is an open question whether lead can be produced more cheaply here or in the Cœur d’Alene. The mines of southeastern Missouri are only 60 to 100 miles distant from St. Louis, and are in close proximity to the coalfields of southern Illinois, which afford cheap fuel. The ore lies at depths of only 100 to 500 ft. below the surface. The ground stands admirably, without any timbering. Labor and supplies are comparatively cheap. Mining and milling can be done for $1.05 to $1.25 per ton of crude ore, when conducted on the large scale that is common in this district. Most of the mining companies are equipped to smelt their own ore, the smelters being either at the mines or near St. Louis. The freight rate on concentrates to St. Louis is $1.40 per ton; on pig lead it is $2.10 per ton. The total cost of producing pig lead, delivered at St. Louis, is about 2.25c. per pound, not allowing for interest on the investment, amortization, etc.
The production of the mines in the disseminated district in 1901 was equivalent to 46,657 tons of pig lead; in 1902 it was 56,550 tons. The milling capacity of the district is about 6000 tons per day, which corresponds to a capacity for the production of about 57,000 tons of pig lead per annum. The St. Joseph Lead Company is building a new 1000 ton mill, and the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company (National Lead Company) is further increasing its output, which improvements will increase the daily milling capacity by about 1400 tons, and will enable the district to put out upward of 66,000 tons of pig lead. In this district, as in the Cœur d’Alene, the industry is closely concentrated, there being only nine producers, all told.
Park City, Utah.—Nearly all the lead produced by this camp comes from the Silver King, Daly West, Ontario, Quincy, Anchor and Daly mines, which have large veins of low-grade ore carrying argentiferous galena and blende, a galena product being obtained by dressing, and zinkiferous tailings, which are accumulated for further treatment as zinc ore, when market conditions justify.[5]
Joplin District.—The lead production of southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas, in what is known as the Joplin district, is derived entirely as a by-product in dressing the zinc ore of that district. It is obtained as a product assaying about 77 per cent. Pb, and is the highest grade of lead ore produced, in large quantity, anywhere in the United States. It is smelted partly for the production of pig lead, and partly for the direct manufacture of white lead. The lead ore production of the district was 31,294 tons in 1895, 26,927 tons in 1896, 29,578 tons in 1897, 26,457 tons in 1898, 24,100 tons in 1899, 28,500 tons in 1900, 35,000 tons in 1901, and 31,615 tons in 1902. The production of lead ore in this district varies more or less, according to the production of zinc ore, and is not likely to increase materially over the figure attained in 1901.