August 4, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



163 



this year's output of ore is expected to surpass 

 the large production of last year. 



The lead and zinc mines are producing ore 

 at a rate even exceeding that of last year and 

 the prevailing prices have made possible the 

 working of large quantities of low-grade ore. 



Most precious-metal mines are operating at 

 full capacity. The gold production will prob- 

 ably fall below the high yield of last year, but 

 silver, the one metal last to benefit by the gen- 

 eral domestic prosperity, is expected this year 

 to break all previous records. 



In quicksilver the outlook is for a continu- 

 ance of the output of 1915, which was the 

 largest for several years. Thus far in 1916 the 

 average price has greatly exceeded the 1915 

 prices ; and although the reaction in prices has 

 come, conditions are favorable for steady and 

 profitable operation of the quicksilver mines, 

 some of which are newly opened. 



The reports from the survey's western offices 

 are all optimistic. In Arizona mines and 

 smelters are working at high pressure, and the 

 production of metals already shows an increase 

 that promises to make the value of the output 

 nearly double that of last year. Arizona will 

 maintain first place as a copper producer. New 

 Mexico is continuing its rapid progress as a 

 metal-mining state, with increases in its out-- 

 put of lead, copper, zinc, gfold and silver. The 

 mines of Colorado in the six months just past 

 have shown some changes in output as com- 

 pared with last year; an increase of 30 per 

 cent, in copper is indicated, together with 

 small gains in lead and zinc, a 15 per cent, de- 

 crease in gold, and little change in silver. This 

 output, however, represents a large gain in 

 value of mine production. Mining has also 

 been stimulated in Montana, and the forecast 

 indicates an increase of 60 per cent, in the 

 value of the mine product over that of last 

 year. Here also record outputs may be ex- 

 pected for 1916. Idaho mines are increasing 

 their shipments in all the metals, with higher 

 wages and larger dividends as the result of 

 better prices. 



Utah is experiencing an ore production in 

 excess of smelter capacity. The value of the 

 1916 output of copper is expected to be double 



that of last year. Throughout Nevada the old 

 term " boom " best expresses the present min- 

 ing revival. Old mines are being reopened and 

 regular producers are working at full capacity. 

 The chief gains in production will be in cop- 

 per, lead and zinc. The increased activity in 

 the mining industry of California is finding 

 expression largely in the reopening of mines 

 that have been long idle and the opening of 

 new mines for chrome, tungsten, manganese, 

 antimony and magnesite, rail shipments of 

 these ores to the east being made possible by 

 prevailing high prices. Washington is an- 

 other state which shows increased production, 

 the mining industry there being in better con- 

 dition than for several years past. Alaska also 

 is benefiting by the increased activity of its 

 mines. Copper mining is showing great ad- 

 vances, and the output of both copper and gold 

 promises to exceed that of last year. 



THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 



At the recent regular election of the newly 

 organized optical society, the name Optical 

 Society of America was chosen. The officers 

 chosen for the year are: President, P. G. 

 Nutting; Vice-president, G. E. Hale; Treas- 

 urer, Adolph Lomb; Secretary, F. E. Ross. 

 The Executive Council consists of the above 

 officers and F. E. Wright, C. E. K. Mees, 

 Norman Macbeth and J. P. C. Southall. The 

 charter members of the society are: 



Mr. Adelbert Ames, Jr., research, Clark Univer- 

 sity; Mr. Edward Bauseh, member Bausch & Lomb 

 Optical Co.; Dr. E. J. Bissell, research opthalmolo- 

 gist; Dr. Wm. Churchill, Corning Glass Co.; Pro- 

 fessor Louis Derr, professor of physics, M. I. T. ; 

 Dr. Marshall D. Ewell, consulting optical engineer; 

 Professor C. W. Frederick, chief, lens designing and 

 testing, E. K. Co.; Dr. H. P. Gage, optical research 

 and design, Corning Glass Co.; Dr. G. E. Hale, di- 

 rector, Solar Observatory, Mt. Wilson; Dr. E. P. 

 Hyde, director, Nela Research Laboratory; Dr. H. 

 E. Ives, optical research, TJ. G. I. Co.; Mr. L. A. 

 Jones, optical research, E. K. Co.; Dr. H. Kellner, 

 chief, scientific bureau, B. & L. Co.; Mr. C. H. 

 Kerr, director, research laboratory, P. P. Class 

 Co.; Dr. Walter B. Lancaster, research opthalmol- 

 ogist; Mr. Adolph Lomb, member Bauseh & Lomb 

 Optical Co.; Mr. Norman Macbeth, editor and 



