The Silver City Chamber of Commerce to the Secretary of State
[Telegram]
The following is copy of resolutions this day adopted by Silver City, New Mexico, Chamber of Commerce:
Whereas the British Empire has proclaimed that during the present European war copper will hereafter by it be considered as absolute contraband of war; and
Whereas the recognition of said declaration and its application to commerce would stop the export of copper from the United States during the continuance of said war; and
Whereas the production of copper in the State of New Mexico is an industry which supports a very considerable proportion of the population as shown by the following statistics: In the year 1913 the production of copper in the State of New Mexico was 56,308,706 pounds, valued at $8,727,850. The laborers and other employees together with those directly dependent upon them, who were engaged in the production of said copper, numbered for said year not less than 14,000. The payroll of the various copper producers in the State of New Mexico for said year amounted to $3,550,000; and
Whereas the prevention of the exportation of copper would necessarily cause a cessation of the production of copper and would thereby throw out of employment [Page 281] practically all of those persons engaged in the industry and result in distress to them and their dependents, as well as to the communities in which they live; and
Whereas the cessation of the production of copper would prevent the expansion of the said industry and would thereby deprive the State for an indefinite period of the development of one of its greatest resources at a loss which can be conservatively estimated at over $1,000,000 a year exclusive of wages; and
Whereas the State of New Mexico is in a period of development and expansion, which development and expansion would by the cessation of the production of copper be checked and prevented and thereby the development of said state be set back in a manner, the effects of which would be practically incalculable; and
Whereas all of the coal used in the copper mining and smelting of the States of Arizona and western Texas is produced in the State of New Mexico, and the discontinuance of the copper exportation would cut off to a very great extent the coal production to the great detriment of the coal and transportation industry of New Mexico;
Be it resolved by the Silver City Chamber of Commerce: (1) That the Executive Department of the Government of the United States be, and it is hereby urged to combat the recognition of the principle that copper is absolutely contraband of war; (2) That the said Executive Department of the United States be and it is hereby urged to use all of its influence to secure the recognition of the principle that copper may be shipped in neutral vessels to neutral ports.
President