sticht, manager since 1897, died in april 1922 and murray was appointed his successor, but at a little over half the salary. despite a world-wide reduction in demand for copper and low-cost competition from africa and the americas, murray was able to increase production from 140,000 tons in 1922 to 1,500,000 tons in 1943 and maintain dividends for the shareholders and employment for the workers, though at a considerable cost to the environment. he was highly regarded by the workers, who remembered his brave exertions during the disaster, and appreciated his cool decisiveness and concern for the amenity of the town.