36 



many men of this class volunteered for overseas service, and their 

 places were filled by men whose rate of production was somewhat 

 less. 



The tonnage of nickel produced in 1918 was more 

 in Ontario than double that produced in 1914. In 1905 the yield 



was 18,876,315 lbs.; in 1910 it was 37,271,033 lbs.; 

 in 1914 it was 45,517,937 lbs., and in 1918 it was 92,076.034 lbs., 

 valued at 836,830,414. Three-quarters of the world's production of 

 nickel is mined in Ontario and, with an era of lower prices, the pro- 

 portion is likely to increase rather than decrease. The nickel refining 

 plant of the International Nickel Co., at Port Colborne, Ont., was 

 put into operation in July, 1918. 



Copper Ybe production of copper was much stimulated bv 



Production i i r i 



Largely Increased the enormous demand lor war purposes, the greater 



portion of this metal being obtained from the large 



low-grade ores of British Columbia and the nickel-copper mines of 



Sudbury, Ont. The production in Ontario amounted to 23,524 tons 



(47,047,801 lbs.), valued at $11,586,932. The International Nickel 



Co. and the Mond Nickel Co., combined, produced 23,472 tons, or 



99-8 per cent of the Ontario output. British Columbia produced 



31,429 tons (62,858,628 lbs.), valued at $15,480,823. In the latter 



part of 1916, electrolytic refineries for copper and for zinc were put 



into operation by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. at 



Trail, B.C. 



^ ,, The total production of gold in 1918 amounted to 



Less Gold 



Produced 710,526 ozs.. Valued at $14,687,875, as compared with 



738,831 ozs., valued at $15,272,992 in 1917. The 

 gold production of Ontario was 411,270 ozs., valued at $8,501,705, 

 $247,876 less than in 1917, due to the severe handicap under which 

 producers of this metal are operating. The Hollinger, one of the 

 great gold mines of the world, yielded two-thirds of the Ontario pro- 

 duction, or $5,752,370. 



The production of silver in 1918 is estimated at 

 Shows Decline 21,284,607 OZS., Valued at $20,597,540, as against 

 22,221,274 ozs., valued at $18,091,895 in 1917, a 

 decrease of 4-2 per cent in quantity, but an increase of 13-8 per cent 

 in value. Ontario produced 17,109,389 ozs., valued at $16,557,098. or 

 80-4 per cent of the total silver production of Canada. As all but 

 0-3 per cent was produced in the Cobalt district, the dominant 

 position of this area is apparent. 



