The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-08-02
MARKETS OF THE WORLD
Local, Eastern and Foreign
Commercial Dealings
WALL STREET SPECUL ALTON
California Borax Deposits and Their
Products
A Great Industry Netting the State 7i'fon
Dollars Per Apnum-The Growth OF
Great Industry

Ever since 1860 California has been pro-
ducing borax. The production was at first
small and the methods of refining the ma
terial crude but from small beginning
the borax industry has grown to enormous
proportions. Every year now the produce
ton of borax amounts to many millions OF
pounds and the value to over 81. 900, 900.
Borax can be considered one of the impor-
tant products of the state.
Until the California borax deposits be-
came known borax was too costlyl for gem
eral use. 1t was found in few places and the
cost of putting it on the market was so
great as to preclude its general use. But
when the great deposits of the state were
found borax began to be regarded as a
household necessity. 1t was so much bet
ter than soda or potash for all kinds of
cleaning operations that 1t was employed
in preference to them. even though the
cost was greater.
But gradually as the demand increased
and as the methods of handling the mater
ial became more perfect the cost came
down. And just as the use increased and
people became better acquainted with the
material did their admiration of borax aug
ment. 1t was found to be the finest kind
of a cleansing material. having all the de-
sirable qualities and none of the undesr
able ones of the alkalies that had formerly
been used. 1t was found too, to possess
valuable medicinal properties and to be
the best kind of preservative of perish
able foods. In fact. so many uses have
been found that borax now promises to
take its place in the household alongside
of salt and to be used in nearly as many
ways The great decrease in the price
OF boraX has encouraged this increased
use, for the finest kind of boraX can now
be bought at the rate of 10 cents a pound.
price that a few years ago would have
been considered impossible.
Chemically. borax is a combination of a
small percentage of sodium with boracic
(Dorlc) acid. While apparently weaker
than soda it is in a way stronger 1t
seems to have an even greater power of
same time it does not act disastrously on
the fabric or on the hands OF those using
IT. Soda Will remove dirt very effectively
every one knows that; but. at the same
time. every one knows that II will remove
the skin from the hands of those unfortun-
ate enough to be compelled to use it. Where
soda is used in the laundry it very soon
ruins the cloth submitted to its action In
these cases boraX has great advantage
superior of soda for all cleansing purposes,
and does no damage either to clothing or
cuticle. In fact. the effect of borax on
the skin is so pleasant in its character that
many persons use it in preference to soap
for bath purposes. A little borax in the
bath water. or, even better. little of one
OF the improved preparations recently put
on the market. leaves the skin in a very
agreeable condition.
Anotner use tndt mas recently become
prominent is that of a food .preservativc
On this point a recent article in the Ma
tional Provisioner gives some interesting
information. The article says:
ut would be utterly Impossible to find
another article of commerce of much
value. and that could be put to so many
profitable uses in the packing industry as
borax. A solution of borax is very effec-
tive in preventing sour mnrrows, knuck-
it has no equal. Boric acid, used to dip
meats In Is the hest preservative known
for any and all kinds of meat. Borax as
a constituent of preSerNatiVeS for Sausa-
ges is well known and much appreciated.
and forms the base of most preservative
and antiSeptic compounds"
The National Provisioner calls attention
to the value of boraX to the export meat
trade. 1t says:
eign provision markets as affected by bo-
rax are color and mild cures The packers
additional requirements are the least pos
sible shrinkage and the lghtest possible
tares. all of which requirements are OBJ
tainable only through the use of borax. 1t
is a well-known fact in curing that consid-
cradle care must be exercised in excluding
the air in addition to the use of saltpeter
to obtain color. The air-excluding proper
ties of borax I'll this requirement. Meats
shipped in salt undoubtedly become more
impregnated with salt. and consequently
deteriorated in value: whilst when ship
ped in borax. they will reach destination
in the original state exactly. as regards
cure not only. but borax does not impair
the taste or flavor of the goods. The air
detainer when figuring upon the shrnkage.
There are other advantages; for instance.
meats packed in borax, fully cured Of
course. may be held over a considerable
time by consignees. when there is a posi-
bility of bulge. without any extra risk
of shrinkage, loss of color. rancidity, etc.
or any fear of meats becoming too much
impregnated with salt. We have the I'M
written and unspoken Endorsement of the
oldest and most successful exporters in
the United States. from the very fact that
they use borax in enormous yet onlxfn
requisite quantities"
1t would not be possible to get anything
much stronger than this But to this must
be added the fact that borax used in this
case is not injurious. OF course; if used
but then the same Is true of salt or even of
bread and butter.
There is another development of the
borax industry that is becoming of much
importance-the manufacture of boracic or
boric acid. Boric acid is not in appear
ance or behavior what an acid is generally
supposed to be. 1t is a white powder desti-
tute of smell and with little taste. 1t has
none of the corrosive qualities that an
best kind Of an antiseptic, and can be used
either incidentally or for the preservation
OF food. In both cases the action is the
same. for boric acid is sure death to germs.
when taken into the stomach in reason
able quantity. AS in the case of borax
also, the price has of late been so greatly
reduced that it can be used by everybody
and will undoubtedly take its place as
household necessity.
.he question to the effect of bocax
and boracic acid on the human System has
been very thoroughly studied. The two
substances arc now used so extensively to
preserve milk. fresh fish. etc, that 1t was
very Important that such examinations
should be made. Prof. r. H. Chittenden
professor "f physiological chemistry IN
Yale college, made many tests and present.
Ell very carefully written report on the
subject. he found that in the quantities
in when the substances would be useI for
food preservation they were not only harm
less but were actually of benefit, They
even seemed to accelerate and aid the Gi-
gestive processes Even when as much as
rs pr cent of boracic acid was present in
the stomach. the action of the gastric
juice does not seem to be at all affected
New England Grocer.
Current Quotations
Butter is very firm with a prospect of
further advance at once. Eggs are Quiet
hard to get at the outside price Other ma r,
kets quiet and steady.
EGGS-Choice California ranch 1701oo.
northern, 14lD15c 49,