THE president's ADDRESS. 127 



Well, now, to return tu this table and to sura tip shortly 

 the facts taught by it ; Twelve years ago England — we may say 

 Cornwall — produced 6,280 tons out of the total production of 

 the world of 78,037 tons, being roughly 8 per cent. Last year 

 only 3,000 tons out of a total production of 193,454 tons, or only 

 a little more than 1^ per cent. The United States on the other 

 hand has increased from 11,479 tons out of a total 78,037 tons 

 = 14-70 per cent, in 1871, to 52,080 tons out of 193,454 tons = 

 27-71 per cent, in 1883. 



The other table repeats the same tale of falling off as regards 

 copper ores sold in Cornwall and Wales, In the year ending 

 30th of June, 1863, 176,285 tons of ore, with a contents of fine 

 copper of 1 1 ,269 tons, was sold in Cornwall, and 38,457 tons of 

 ore containing 5,587 tons of fine copper was sold in Wales, 

 whereas in the year ending 30th June, 1883, only 41,537 tons of 

 ore, containing 2,526 tons of fine copper, was sold in Cornwall, 

 and in Wales only 5,237 tons containing 587 tons of copper. 



It is evident from this cursory glance at these tables, with 

 which I will no longer weary you, that in consequence of the 

 vast discoveries of copper, one may say all over the world, that 

 our home production no longer forms even an important factor 

 of the whole. How far this has been caused by the great fall 

 in the value of the metal, which has now continued with a 

 downward tendency for such a lengthened period, is a matter of 

 considerable surmise. There can, however, be little doubt but 

 that if the demand of the woi-ld had continued to be proportion- 

 ate with the increased and increasing supply, and that, in 

 consequence, the old prices had been maintained, the production 

 of our own mines would have been far in excess of what it is 

 at present. The value of the metal, however, has been so 

 disastrou.sly low for so very many years, that only exceptionally 

 well-to-do mines could afford to sell their ores at the prices they 

 commanded in the market. I feel sure that many, myself 

 amongst the number, would be very glad indeed to know Avhether 

 this state of things is likely to continue. My own private 

 opinion is, that we can only look for an improvement in the 

 value of cojiper to an increase in the demand for it, for I feel sure 

 that instead of any falling off in foreign production wo shall have 

 to meet a very rapid and constant increase, that is to say, under 

 the usual condition of national affairs. As regards an increase 



