The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-23

The proposition to raise the tariff on
the importation of chemicals into the
United States is being quite freely dis
cussed by the mining men of the west,
and especially by those who are using
the cyanide process in the reduction Of
ores. and by many of these it is be-
lieved that the imposition of such a
tariff will have the effect of causing
an advance in the cost of cyanide, in
asmuch as a large proportion OF the
raw material that is used in the manu-
facture of this gold solvent is imported.
The cyanide that is used in milling
in the west is principally manufactured
in New Jersey. and it is a notable fact
that during the past five years the cost
of this chemical product has declined
at least One-half, and should prices adj
vance, a blow would be given TO the
mining industry of this country as far
as the utilization of cyanide is con-
cerned in the reduction OF low-grade
gold ores.
Manager John Dern of the Mercur
company is of the opinion that the
raising of the tariff on the importation
of chemicals into this country would
result in an increase Of the cost of
cyanide and there are many other
well-posted mining men who also mold
to this belief. and as a result petitions
have been sent TO Washington from
all over the west, and also directly
from Utah. praying that there be no
increase in the tariff on chemicals.
I'VE will take the Mercur mine, for
instance" said NJ. Dern. At our mill
we use about a pound of cyanide in the
reduction of $10-ore but with an in
creased tariff on the raw material
which enters into the manufacture of
cyanide. the cost of treatment at the
Mercur mill would doubtless be in
creased at least 80 to 30 cents a ton.
OF course the advance would affect US
only nominally, but there are a GER
tain class of low-grade ores in this
country that require the use of from
four TO six pounds of cyanide TO the
ton: these could not be treated at
profit. and consequently such mines
would be obliged TO close down.
Mr.. E ] Clenrell, the metallurgical
chemist who is associated F-ith Messrs.
Buffers & Mitchell, is OF the opinion
that the proposed raise in the tariff
on chemicals might result in the tenn
porarv advance in the cost of cyanide,
but he does not believe that this would
last long. as this country is prolific III
the raw materials which enter into
the manufacture of cyanide, such as
refuse Of all kinds, potash and the al
kalies. and he is satisfied that with
the imposition OF q tariff on imported
chemicals the manufacture of cyanide
on a large scale would be engaged in
in the United States, and that home
productS would be used exclusively IN
the production of this article. In fact,
Mr.. Clennell cannot see, if cyanide can
be manufactured as cheapiy IN the
United States as il can in Europe, why
there is any need of a tariff on the
chemicals or raw materials which enter
:nto its composition; and, if ii cannot,
there is all the more reason why these
chemicals should come in free, as the
interest of the people should be re-
garded in the premises. and their in
tereSt is to secure the manufactured
article as cheaply as possible.
According TO Mr. Clennell, cyanide
IS delivered at South Africa at 81 cents
a pound. and there is no reason why 1t
should not be much cheaper in this
country.
Mr.. Mitchell is satisfied that this
country abounds in the raw material
necessary for the manufacture OF cy-
anide, and that the imposition OF
tariff will not affect prices unless ii
might stimulate the American people
TO engage in its production from the
raw material at hand and this IS so
nlentiful that Europe cannot cNme into
manufacture of cyanide. For this rea-
son it is folly TO impose a tariff on raw
materials that can be produced more
cheaply az home.
]. w. Nein of the Taylor & Brunton
sampling works, the well-known met
alIurgist. is of the opinion that the i'm
Dosition of a higher tariff on chemicals
would be a good thing and would en-
courage the extensive manufacture of
cyanide in the United States, where,
he saws. there abounds all the neces-
sary ingredients for its production As
a clincher to his theory on this sub
iect. Mr.. NELL cited the establishment
of the Salvoy Process company's works
at Syracuse, New York; and he asserts
that since the establishment of these
works the importation of soda ash and
caustic soda has been reduced by at
least one-half. and he is of the opinion |
that he same condition would obtain
in the manufacture of cyanide in this |